Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter. File Photo

COX'S BAZAR, Sept 20, 2025 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has visited the ongoing survey and research activities aboard the Department of Fisheries' modern research vessel 'RV Meen Shandhani', deployed in the Bay of Bengal. 

During the inspection yesterday and this morning, the Adviser observed the use of advanced technologies on board, progress of the research and the process of data analysis. The vessel collects information on sea depth, temperature, salinity, water quality and biodiversity.

On Friday afternoon, a demersal survey was conducted 5 nautical miles off Inani in the deep sea, while a shrimp survey was carried out 12 nautical miles off Kolatoli at night. 

Through trawling, 20 species of fish and 10 species of shrimp were collected, as part of monitoring whether the trawl nets were functioning properly.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Abu Tahir Muhammed Zaber, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf and Skipper of the RV Meen Shandhani Lt. Commander Sharafuddin accompanied the Adviser during the visit. 

Director of the Marine Fisheries Survey Management Unit Dr. Moin Uddin Ahmed presented various research findings.

So far, the RV Meen Shandhani has conducted 54 cruises, during which 459 species of marine organisms have been identified from different regions and depths of the Bay of Bengal. These include 353 species of fish, 26 species of shrimp, 30 species of sharks and rays, 27 species of crabs, 3 species of lobsters, 14 species of cephalopods and 6 species of sea snakes.

At present, the vessel is carrying out shrimp surveys (10-100 meters), demersal surveys (10-200 meters) and pelagic surveys (10-200 meters).