Photo by Mohammad Mahmudul Islam
When we picture a fishing boat, what comes to mind? A massive steel trawler hauling in tons of fish? Or a smaller boat, maybe family-run, heading out before sunrise? That question came up recently when I joined a conversation on Newfoundland and Labrador’s CBC Radio’s show The Signal.
Md Ruyel Miah, a member of TBTI Bangladesh, successfully defended his PhD dissertation in Sustainability Management on July 31st 2025 at the University of Waterloo, Canada. His PhD dissertation focuses on the transboundary governance of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, shared between Bangladesh and India.
On February 18th, 2025, Jewel successfully defended his PhD at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) and the University of Bremen, Germany. His dissertation, titled “Coastal Megaprojects in the Blue Economy: Towards Equity and Transformation for the Coastal Poor – A Case Study from Bangladesh,” examines the social impacts of large-scale coastal developments on small-scale fisheries.
Attending the 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Conference (14AFAF 2025) was an enriching experience, but one of the most impactful moments was the opportunity to meet the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Global Director, Dr. Ratana Chuenpagdee and the Coordinators of the TBTI Philippines and TBTI Thailand.
Young Futures” is a call to youth around the world, inviting them to express their thoughts and ideas about the future of the ocean, the fisheries, the coast, the communities and the society that they are part of. Check out the TBTI Bangladesh contributions for the ‘Young Futures’ call for 2025 World Day of Social Justice.
This chapter systematizes and discusses the strategies for creating safe spaces for small-scale fisheries in the blue economy transformation to guide social-ecological systems toward sustainable pathways. The case of Bangladesh is considered in light of the blue economy development in its coastal regions.
Special message from TBTI Bangladesh hub coordinator Mahmud Islam for 2024 World Fisheries Day
TBTI Bangladesh Research Network was launched on March 15, 2023 at the Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU). The event, chaired by Dr. Mrityunjoy Kunda, Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, brought together about 60 participants, including faculty members, students, researchers, NGOs representatives, journalists, and fishing people. Dr. Mohammad Mahmudul Islam, coordinator of the TBTI Bangladesh Research Network, moderated the event. Special guest included Dr. Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Director, and Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan, honourable Vice-Chancellor, SAU.
Established as a research network and knowledge mobilization partnership, TBTI Bangladesh aims to raise awareness about small-scale fisheries in Bangladesh and influence public policy and decision-making by working on a wide range of issues, including fishing communities’ well-being, social justice, and protecting the environment.
This book is a comprehensive guide for small-scale fisheries in Bangladesh for those interested in learning more about this vital sector. It provides an overview of the importance of small-scale fisheries, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they offer. This edited volume includes contributions from academics, researchers, NGO representatives, and practitioners who have a stake in Bangladesh's small-scale fisheries. The book is designed to provide a thorough introduction to small-scale fisheries in Bangladesh and help readers understand the importance of preserving this valuable resource. We hope this book will be of great use to those interested in learning more about the country’s small-scale fisheries and in supporting the sustainable management of this important resource. We also hope it will raise public awareness and inform policymakers of the need to protect these valuable fisheries and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them.
Mohammad Mahmudul Islam, Hub coordinator
Facebook Page: TBTI Bangladesh
Mohammad Mahmudul Islam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Coastal and Marine Fisheries at Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh. With a background in marine science and fisheries development studies, he is an interdisciplinary marine social scientist with interests in coastal social-ecological systems. He has more than twelve years of experience in conducting research on coastal communities, small-scale fisheries and marine conservation in Bangladesh. Some of his works focused on policy and marine management, thus he had gathered experiences in working at the science-policy interface.
