World Ocean Day: Bangladesh’s ‘Silent Island’ provides a fisheries model for the future
Nijhum Dwip and the 3,188 km² expanse surrounding the island is more than just water. It is a biologically rich ecosystem that supports species like dolphins, rays, marine turtles, threatened shorebirds, and most crucially, Hilsa
At the far southern edge of Bangladesh, in the restless Bay of Bengal, there is an island named Nijhum Dwip, which translates to "Silent Island".
But in reality, nothing about life here is silent. Neither the roaring tides nor the creaking of wooden fishing boats against the shore. And definitely not the resilience of the people who call this place home.
For hundreds of small fishermen living near this delicate area, sustainable fishing is not just an ideal — it is a necessity for their survival.
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The Nijhum Dwip Marine Protected Area (MPA), Bangladesh's largest marine protected area, is at the centre of their struggle and their only hope. As we look to the seas and their stewards on 8 June this year to celebrate World Ocean Day, local initiatives such as Nijhum Dwip can serve as a forward-looking model for conservation and sustainable use of oceans worldwide.
"Communities in five Bangladesh sub-districts depend on Hilsa and the productive waters of Nijhum Dwip. The key to its management has been ensuring protection of this marine wealth without ignoring human needs. In 2021, a 15-year management plan introduced by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN), WorldFish, and the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries, set a new example for ecosystem-based, participatory conservation."
Nijhum Dwip was declared an MPA in June 2019, and the 3,188 km² expanse surrounding the island is more than just water. It is a biologically rich ecosystem that supports species like dolphins, rays, marine turtles, threatened shorebirds, and — most crucially — Hilsa. This vital fish species not only holds cultural significance but also sustains millions in the region through food and income.
Communities in five Bangladesh sub-districts depend on Hilsa and the productive waters of Nijhum Dwip. The key to its management has been ensuring protection of this marine wealth without ignoring human needs. In 2021, a 15-year management plan introduced by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN), WorldFish, and the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries, set a new example for ecosystem-based, participatory conservation.
However, Nijhum Dwip continues to suffer from issues that are increasingly plaguing vital marine areas throughout the world: climate change, overfishing and habitat loss. What it needs now is clarity — strategic conservation that balances both ecological goals and human needs.
Marine Managed Areas (MMAs) could be the answer. Unlike traditional MPAs, MMAs are zoned and flexibly managed areas where conservation and community activities can co-exist. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) led by the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Phase II (BOBLME II) project, managed by IUCN, aims to implement MMAs within Bangladesh's MPAs, offering an innovative model of resilience and equity.
The MMAs are part of Bangladesh's investment in additional new approaches, such as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures, or OECMs. These initiatives create sustainable use zones where communities can participate in regulated activities, aligning ecological protection with local livelihoods. And as a more flexible model of protection, MMAs and OECMs allow communities to engage in fishing or ecotourism without harming conservation. This balance is essential as Bangladesh looks to the ocean as an economic future.
Importantly, current Nijhum Dwip management efforts recognise that inclusivity is the key to that future. Union Conservation Committees (UCCs), composed of fishers, fish traders, community leaders, and women, now help draft and enforce local fishing regulations. Community Fish Guards patrol their own waters. Citizen Scientists collect critical data on fish catches and sightings of dolphins, turtles, and rays.
And then there are the youth-led Blue Guard teams—young protectors who remove ghost nets, educate peers, and rescue trapped marine life, living by example through a model that has turned management scepticism into ownership.
These coastal youth are also stepping up as digital stewards of the sea. Mobile apps now allow them to report illegal fishing, track fish populations, and share real-time data, fostering both conservation and digital literacy among the next generation. Their efforts are bridging technology with conservation and building skills for the future.
Yet, even as these efforts gain traction, not everyone can contribute equally. In most Nijhum Dwip households, men, fish and women stay behind, physically and socially excluded from community meetings and decisions. Recognising this, the co-management plan has created leadership roles specifically for women in UCCs. Initiatives such as Community Savings Groups and Women's Income and Nutrition Groups are helping women strengthen their financial independence.
The story of Nijhum Dwip is one of transformation. It is the story of fishermen who once feared enforcement and were rule breakers, but are now leading it, protecting it. Young people who once wanted jobs abroad, now rescuing dolphins. Women who once counted coins in secret, now influence village economies. Together, these efforts are giving Bangladesh the chance to lead in South Asia with a community-driven model of marine governance, where fishers are not just protected, but empowered.
This year's World Ocean Day theme is "Sustainable fishing means more". In Nijhum Dwip, sustainable fishing means a strong blend of coastal planning, new scientific tools, and local voices, bringing to life Bangladesh's goal of protecting 30 percent of its seas. The Silent Island's roaring tides and creaking boats should be loud enough to be heard in fisheries conservation and management zones worldwide.
