India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives launched the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries (BOB-NOR) in Kochi on November 5, 2026. The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) coordinates the network.
Research focus
The launch took place at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute during an international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing. BOB-NOR will combine ocean studies, climate data and information from the fishing sector to support science-based fisheries management. Its research will use satellites, sea surveys, climate studies and fisheries research to assess how rising sea temperatures, changing monsoon patterns, salinity, ocean currents and marine life affect fish populations.
Regional participation
Officials and experts from the four member countries took part, alongside ocean scientists and marine researchers from six countries outside the region, including the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom. Union Fisheries Joint Secretary Surabhi Rai said the initiative could serve as a global model for science-based fisheries management.
Important Facts for Exams
- BOBP-IGO’s operational focus: BOBP-IGO’s work centres on sustainable small-scale fisheries development, including capacity-building and regional cooperation, rather than direct stock regulation.
- What satellites measure: Ocean-colour satellites estimate properties such as chlorophyll concentration, while sea-surface temperature sensors track thermal conditions; neither directly counts fish stocks.
- Bay of Bengal stratification: Heavy monsoon river discharge creates a low-salinity surface layer in the Bay of Bengal, strengthening stratification and potentially suppressing nutrient-rich vertical mixing.
