Fisheries and Livestock Affairs Adviser Farida Akhter has stressed the need to evaluate the practical applicability of technologies before promoting them for climate resilience and environmental sustainability, especially for fishing communities and coastal populations.
“While we often speak of smart climate or eco-friendly technologies, we must critically assess whether these are truly suitable for the realities of our coastal and fishing communities. That is why verifying the practicality of any technology is essential,” she said on Thursday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop in Gulshan’s Lakeshore Heights.
The event focused on the applicability of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in Bangladesh, value chain studies of IMTA species, rapid assessments of the coastal and marine sectors, and environmental and climate impact evaluations.
The adviser emphasised the importance of not underestimating the knowledge of coastal communities. “There’s a misconception that fishers or coastal residents are unaware of technology or do not follow science-based approaches. This is not true. Their traditional knowledge systems include practices from which we have much to learn,” she said.
Farida Akhter also highlighted the pressing challenges posed by climate change and pollution, emphasising the need to ensure sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, particularly women.
She noted that the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway Project, supported by WorldFish Bangladesh and the UK government’s Blue Planet Fund, could play a vital role in improving coastal resilience.
Referring to IMTA as a relatively new concept in Bangladesh, she called for cautious implementation, stressing the importance of collaboration between WorldFish, the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), the Department of Fisheries, and academic institutions. She added that the government and private sector should take steps to market products like seaweed and green mussels grown through IMTA systems.
Among others, BFRI Director General Dr Anuradha Bhakta and Department of Fisheries Director Dr S.M. Rezaul Karim attended the event as special guests. Research findings were presented by Dr Asaduzzaman and other researchers.
The workshop was also attended by policymakers, researchers, development partners, private sector actors, and representatives from academic institutions. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr Faruk-ul Islam, country representative of WorldFish Bangladesh.