ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the transboundary element of fisheries management because most fish species in the Bay of Bengal migrate beyond the maritime boundary of one or more states, so a unilateral or bilateral management regime will be unable to cover the entire migratory range of the fish stocks. Moreover, as the Bay of Bengal is a large maritime ecosystem (LME) with unique features, a cooperative management regime involving all the littoral states of the Bay is needed to ensure the management of its living resources. The chapter examines the nature and scope of the obligation of coastal states under international law to cooperate with other relevant coastal states in managing transboundary fish stocks. It also highlights the shortcomings of the existing regional arrangements among the Bay of Bengal rim countries concerning fisheries management. The chapter argues that there is an apparent lack of a robust regional fisheries management framework among the coastal states of the Bay, which allows unsustainable exploitation of marine fisheries in the Bay. Hence, meaningful regional cooperation in fisheries management among the coastal states of the Bay of Bengal is essential to ensure sustainable management of marine fisheries in the Bay of Bengal.
