Norway-India-Bangladesh consortium for Hilsa aquaculture in South Asia

Hilsa is an extremely popular fish in Bangladesh and in the Indian states of West Bengal, Orissa, Tripura and Assam and consumed by 250 million people. It is unfortunately though a wild resource in decline, due in large part to hydrological changes in its major spawning habitats in the Ganges river watershed, as well as over-fishing and habitat degradation. Recognizing the importance of the hilsa, scientists in both Bangladesh and India have started trials on the breeding and culture of the species however progress has been slow due to lack of coordinated efforts. Thus, a much more focused and coordinated research and development initiative is required if progress is to be made. The project has achieved its objectives, and successfully laid a foundation for cooperation in the future development of farming of hilsa (Tenualosa ilsha) within the south Asian region. It has also helped bring Myanmar as a further important country in the Bay of Bengal region where hilsa is an important fishery, and where there is strong interest in aquaculture in the future. A partnership between Nofima and partners in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, together with WorldFish, has now been established, and all the partners remain committed to continue to further such cooperation in the future. The papers prepared for the meeting represent an important collection of scientific knowledge on hilsa. These documents have been circulated to all participants as a workshop proceeding, but could certainly (with some further editing) be published as a monograph.