Date: 30/09/2022

Relevance: GS-2 India and its neighbourhood- relations; bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Key Phrases: Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Role of BIMSTEC in Indian Ocean, Maritime security in Indian Ocean.

Context:

• The Bay of Bengal is experiencing an increase in geo-economic, geopolitical, and geo-cultural activity and poised to play a key role in shaping the maritime order in Asia.
• At the fourth BIMSTEC summit, the Prime Minister of India announced the opening of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS) at Nalanda University which demonstrates India’s commitment to advancing constructive works and forging deep connections with neighbouring states.

Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS): Rethinking the Bay

• The CBS will offer collaborations in areas such as
  • Geo-economics and geopolitics
  • Trade and connectivity
  • Ecology and maritime security
  • Foster maritime laws and cultural heritage.
  • Blue economy to generate opportunities for the bay region.
• This will strengthen India’s overall framework for maritime engagement, which aims to advance sustainable economic growth for all by fostering closer nautical ties.

Significance of the Bay

• The Bay has long been a major commerce hub for the Indian Ocean and created a conduit between the East and the West in terms of trade and culture.
• An Indo-Pacific orientation and the realignment of global economic and military power towards Asia have had a considerable impact on the Bay region.
• The key sea lanes of communication in this area are lifelines for global economic security and are crucial to the energy security that powers the economies of many countries in the region.
• The Bay also provides an opportunity for greater regional cooperation in the environmentally friendly exploration of marine and energy resources.
• The Bay has a biodiverse marine environment and is home to many rare and endangered marine species and mangroves, which are essential to the survival of the ecology and the fishing sector.
• It is a partially enclosed sea and receives water from some of the world’s largest rivers which have helped in creating unique geographical landscapes.

Why is the disorder at the Bay?

• The region’s maritime environment has changed as a result of major powers expanding their economic and geopolitical influence.
• The Bay’s ecosystem is going through an unprecedented crisis brought on by widespread environmental exploitation and geopolitical unrest.
• Species extinction is a result of careless exploitation of the maritime environment, which has severe consequences on biodiversity.
• Further, non-traditional dangers including terrorism and climate change have become more prevalent.

The prevailing issues and challenges

• Many anthropogenic problems are damaging the environment of the bay which include
  • High population growth
  • Altered land use and excessive resource exploitation,
  • Salinization and sea level rise aided by climate change
  • Operational discharge from small and medium feeder ships
  • Shipping collisions and unintentional oil spills
• Industrial waste, pollution, and the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic litter are all contributing to the deterioration of the Bay.
• A dead zone has formed as a result, and the mangrove trees that protect the shore from the fury of nature are under more threat than ever.
• Also, Standardizing and harmonizing data reporting remains a major challenge.

Way Forward

• More focused and interdisciplinary study is required on these issues to overcome challenges, and development of better strategies for the sustainable development of the region.
  • The CBS as an interdisciplinary research centre devoted to Bay-focused teaching, research, and capacity building is the right step.
  • Many scholars from many countries and academic streams are already participating in CBS’s first certificate programme on the Bay
• There is an imminent need to boost mutual cooperation among states through
  • Expanding cooperation in maritime safety and security, enhancing cooperation on maritime connectivity and the ease of maritime transit.
  • Boosting investment possibilities in the maritime connectivity sector.
• Addressing non-traditional threats and fostering group efforts to reduce illicit, unreported, and unregulated fishing should be prioritized
• The Littoral governments need to support and promote skill-building, research, and training.

Conclusion

• The maritime domain’s interrelated and interdependent nature, transnational character, and cross-jurisdictional engagement of various governments and diverse organizations and enterprises make it essential that nautical neighbours develop a partnership and cooperate with each other.
• Therefore Countries in the region will need to mobilize incentives and investments, manage oceanic affairs more effectively, and support people as they switch to alternative lifestyles.
  • Because working together is in the larger good due to shared nautical concerns and the complexity of the marine environment.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. The Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS) will strengthen India’s overall framework for maritime engagement, Discuss. Also write on the significance of the Bay of Bengal and its importance in India’s maritime security. (250 words).