Shushilan Participates in SAARC Regional Event in Maldives

Malé, Maldives | 01–02 July 2026

The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Republic of Maldives and Shushilan, is jointly organizing a regional meeting on “Commercially Important Marine Fin Fishes” in Malé, Maldives, on 01–02 July 2026.
The regional event brings together policymakers, fisheries experts, researchers, development practitioners, and representatives from SAARC Member States to discuss sustainable management, utilisation, value addition, and trade opportunities of commercially important marine fin fish resources across South Asia. The meeting also serves as a platform for strengthening regional cooperation, sharing knowledge and experiences, and identifying innovative solutions to build resilience.

Marine fisheries are vital to food security, nutrition, employment, and economic growth in South Asian countries especially for Bangladesh. However, climate change, environmental degradation, resource depletion, and increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems pose significant threats to the sustainability of fisheries resources and the livelihoods of millions of coastal people. Against this backdrop, the regional meeting aims to promote collaborative actions and policy dialogue to ensure sustainable fisheries development and enhanced resilience of coastal communities.

Shushilan is proud to partner with the SAARC Agriculture Centre in organizing this important regional initiative. As a long-standing development organization working in the coastal regions of Bangladesh, Shushilan continues to contribute to sustainable livelihood promotion, climate adaptation, natural resource management, and community resilience-building efforts.

Mr. Mostafa Nuruzzaman, Chief Executive of Shushilan, is participating in the event as an Honorary Special Guest and Partner Representative. His participation reflects Shushilan’s commitment to fostering regional collaboration and promoting sustainable development solutions for vulnerable coastal communities. A key highlight of the programme is the technical presentation by Mr. Satchidananda Biswas, Director of Shushilan, titled “Climate Change Impact on Coastal Fisheries and Livelihoods: Challenges and Coping Strategies in Coastal Bangladesh.” The presentation highlights the realities faced by coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh, including the impacts of sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, cyclones, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and declining fish productivity. It also showcases community-based adaptation practices, sustainable fisheries management approaches, livelihood diversification strategies, and resilience-building initiatives implemented in the coastal districts of Bangladesh.

The programme is expected to generate valuable recommendations and strengthen regional partnerships for sustainable fisheries management, coastal aquaculture development, climate adaptation, and livelihood enhancement. The discussions will contribute to building more resilient coastal economies and improving the well-being of communities that depend on fisheries and marine resources throughout the SAARC region.

Shushilan believes that the knowledge, experiences, and partnerships gained through this regional platform will further support its efforts to promote sustainable coastal resource management, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive economic opportunities for coastal communities in Bangladesh. Through collective action and regional cooperation, the meeting seeks to advance a shared vision of sustainable fisheries development, resilient livelihoods, and healthy marine ecosystems for present and future generations across South Asia.