Abstract
Bangladesh’s diverse coastal and marine waters, covering 8,500 km² with depths of less than 5 meters, offer significant potential for bivalve shellfish mariculture , contributing to environmental sustainability, food security, and long-term economic growth. Despite the favourable geographic location and rich biodiversity of marine bivalves, various technical, environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory challenges have hindered the widespread adoption of bivalve shellfish mariculture . Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status, challenges, and prospects for the sustainable development of bivalve shellfish mariculture in Bangladesh. A mixed-method approach was employed to achieve these objectives, combining an extensive literature review, key stakeholder interviews, field research, and development experiences related to bivalve shellfish mariculture along the Bay of Bengal coast, Bangladesh. The literature review revealed that Bangladesh’s coastal and marine areas are home to approximately 140 bivalve species, 16 of which are commercially important. Among these, 3 to 4 species (Perna viridis , Crassostrea sp., Meretrix meretrix ) are cultivated in nearshore areas of Bangladesh, primarily on a limited scale through donor-assisted, project-based initiatives. The study identified several barriers to the growth of bivalve shellfish mariculture , including a lack of site suitability mapping, technological inefficiencies, challenging coastal hydrodynamics, natural hazards, poor handling and processing, limited consumer acceptance, weak supply chains and logistical support, and insufficient research and development activities. Key findings suggest that implementing marine spatial planning, climate-resilient technologies, capacity building, market development, value chain integration, community engagement, targeted investments in infrastructure and research, public-private partnerships and collaboration, quality assurance and certification systems, and policy reforms are crucial for unlocking the sector’s full potential. By embracing these interventions, the study identifies promising opportunities for bivalve shellfish mariculture , including horizontal expansion and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture to enhance food and nutritional security and improve livelihoods for vulnerable coastal communities. These efforts could drive a paradigm shift toward sustainable bivalve shellfish mariculture practices, contributing to a flourishing blue economy in Bangladesh where both people and nature can thrive in harmony.
Keywords: Filter feeding bivalves; Coastal aquaculture; Self-sustaining mariculture ; Mariculture barriers; Blue economy; Intervention and strategies