TREVOR-SAFARI Symposium Side-Event: Launch Workshop – Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries
Mainstreaming Ocean Science Evidence into Fisheries Management Decisions in the Bay of Bengal
The GEO Blue Planet Fisheries Working Group and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) are organising a regional launch workshop of the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries (BOB-NOR) on 3 November 2026 in Kochi, Kerala, India.
Organised as a side event to the TREVOR SAFARI symposium, the workshop will bring together ocean researchers, fisheries managers and representatives of regional and international organisations to launch the Bay of Bengal Network of Ocean Researchers for Fisheries (BOB-NOR) and strengthen the use of ocean science and information in fisheries management across the region.
BOB-NOR aims to improve connections between ocean researchers and fisheries institutions, strengthen capacity to interpret and apply ocean data, and support evidence-based, climate-resilient fisheries management.
The workshop agenda includes:
– Country presentations on the current use of ocean data in fisheries management, challenges and future priorities
– Available ocean observations, models and advisory products
– Defining minimum viable ocean data requirements for Bay of Bengal fisheries
– Breakout discussions on institutional and data-flow barriers, regional pilot studies, governance and resource mobilisation
– Development of the Kochi Declaration on Mainstreaming Ocean Data in Fisheries Management and a roadmap for future activities
Participating organisations will include representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), University of Lisbon, University of Athens, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Fishery Survey of India and Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET).
The workshop will also bring together country delegates from Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The outcomes will help guide BOB-NOR’s regional activities and future collaboration between ocean science and fisheries management communities.
This activity is supported by GEO Blue Planet through the EU4OceanObs project, an EU-funded project implemented by Mercator Ocean International.