The Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) Project in Bangladesh represents a transformative approach to managing inland fisheries by empowering local communities to take stewardship of aquatic resources. Initiated in the mid-1980s and coordinated by the WorldFish Center in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and various NGOs, the project aimed to improve inland fisheries management policy and practice. By involving stakeholders in participatory management and developing linkages between community groups and local government, the project sought to achieve more sustainable, equitable, and participatory management of resources . The project established community control over numerous water bodies across multiple districts, leading to increased fish production, improved incomes for fishers, and enhanced biodiversity. Despite challenges such as ensuring long-term sustainability and addressing institutional constraints, the CBFM Project has been instrumental in demonstrating the potential of community-led resource management in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector.
