Alifa Bintha Haque
Who I am
I teach at the Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, where I am the team leader at the Bengal Elasmo Lab. I give undergraduate and post-graduate courses and conduct marine research under this umbrella. I have just completed my doctoral studies at the Nature-based Solutions Initiative in the Department of Biology, Oxford, with the support of a Bangabandhu Scholarship. My research, ‘Towards a socially just sustainable fishery preserving sharks and rays in the Bay of Bengal’, aims to produce a replicable sustainability model for threatened shark and ray species by working closely with fishing communities. It steers a locally driven, bottom-up progression from academic literature to action, a narrative that is absent in the current management regimes. I created a platform for research-based conservation action, collaborating with local fishers and traders to fill the dearth of knowledge about sharks and rays in Bangladesh. I have also launched a project that enables fishers to contribute to knowledge and decision-making in a way that is socially just and environmentally sound. Since 2021, 10 fishing vessels have been collecting spatial data using a mobile app. This initiative is a pilot for our technological innovation ‘FishSafe’, an audio-visual device that records bycatch at sea. Five fishing vessels have been using this technology since 2023. Fishers are motivated to take part because they are given access to communication with other boats and the land in the absence of mobile networks at sea. This will also act as a non-monetary and sustainable incentive to initiate organised live-release and self-regulated catch monitoring. I have chosen to work at the challenging intersection of conservation and fisheries in order to create livelihoods for Bangladeshi fishers. My vision is to generate a context-appropriate, community-empowered and collaborative fishery model that has preservation and sustainability at its core.
Where I work
My work takes me all along the coastal region of Bangladesh, but in particular to the south-east, where most of the population fish for their livelihood and fishing pressure is therefore very high. More recently I have also been focusing on the conservation of sawfish in the south-west.
The location for this current project is the Sonadia & Bakhkhali River estuary on Bangladesh’s east coast in the north-eastern Bay of Bengal. It extends from the upper part of Cox’s Bazar to the southern tip of the Kutubdia Channel and includes part of the Bakhkhali River. Bordered by the Bakhkhali River and Kutubdia Channel, the area is characterised by a shallow continental shelf and includes other smaller river mouths (such as that of the Kohelia River) and a variety of habitats: sandy beaches, mudflats, sandbars close to the shore, high dunes and mangrove forests.
The Maheshkhali and Kutubdia channels (within and on either side of this area) separate the Maheshkhali and Kutubdia islands from the mainland. Sonadia Island, located on the eastern cliff coast of Bangladesh, is a unique geological formation that does not fit into traditional categories as a deltaic or estuarine mouth bar. Situated on the shallow and vast inner shelf of the Bay of Bengal, its distinctive location leads to periodic changes in the nearby coastline’s geomorphology. Because of its geographical position and multiple river estuaries and channel mouths, this region is extremely productive in terms of nutrients. The topography of the seabed in the vicinity of Kutubdia and Sonadia islands is characterised by a layer of loose sediment that has been deposited by the major rivers. Sonadia Island features a variety of ecosystems, including mudflats, dunes, mangroves, lagoons, saltpans and beaches. The area overlaps with Sonadia Island Key Biodiversity Area.
What I do
In my role at the University of Dhaka’s Department of Zoology, I balance teaching responsibilities with leading a dedicated team that is studying the sustainable elasmobranch fishery in Bangladesh. A typical day involves guiding undergraduate and graduate students in their studies, emphasising hands-on field work and fostering a deeper understanding of marine ecology. Field expeditions are a cornerstone of our work and we engage directly with local fishers to collect crucial data on shark and ray populations and their habitats. This involves rigorous data collection methodologies that are tailored to our conservation objectives.
Our work doesn’t stop in the field. Back in the lab, we meticulously analyse collected samples and data to gain insight into the distribution, abundance and ecological health of shark and ray species. This analytical phase is crucial for developing evidence-based conservation strategies. By collaborating closely with other researchers and stakeholders, including governmental bodies like the Bangladesh Forest Department and the Department of Fisheries, we ensure that our findings are not just academic, but are effectively integrated into policy and management frameworks, making a tangible impact on the ground.
Beyond the academic realm, our project strives to bridge the gap between scientific research and community engagement. We aim to promote sustainable fishing practices that benefit both marine biodiversity and local livelihoods by fostering relationships with fishing communities and integrating their perspectives into our work. This holistic approach enriches our research and contributes to the broader goal of marine conservation in Bangladesh and beyond.