Bangladesh needs to cope with a fast-changing sea due to climate change for the effective and sustainable use of marine resources, Emeritus Professor of BRAC University Ainun Nishat said on Wednesday.
"Everything is going to change in the sea including the movement of species, current and weather pattern due to climate change and we have to be prepared for that," he said.
He was speaking at the concluding session of a two-day international workshop.
The ministry of fisheries and livestock and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) jointly organised the workshop on "Bangladesh Blue Economy Dialogue on Fisheries and Mariculture" at a city hotel.
Speaking as the guest of honour, Professor Nishat said the country's coastal belt is the most vulnerable to climate change.
"The current in the sea is changing, ecosystem is taking new shape, sea fish species are moving to our coast from another place, and saline water is intruding into new places every day," he said. "We still don't know how bad or good new ecosystem will be."
The water expert said the country's knowledge on marine resources is poor.
"But the government should not wait any longer. They should start working on marine and mariculture," he said.
"There will be mistakes but we will learn from it and the private sector and investments will only follow then."
Speaking at the programme, FAO representative in Bangladesh Robert D Simpson said the government should make effective planning using the knowledge and information disseminated in the workshop.
He also expressed his interest in working with Bangladesh on marine resources.
Fisheries secretary Raisul Alam Mondal said the government has placed much emphasis on education on marine resources as the country lacks it.
He also said it is time to start exploring and utilising marine resources.
The fisheries secretary said the government wants to make collaborate with rich countries on marine resources.
"We are in constant communication with marine resource countries and organisations," he added.
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