BAY Of Bengal Programme Intergovernmental Organisation

What BAY Of Bengal Programme Intergovernmental Organisation does

BOBP-IGO is an Inter-Governmental Organisation (IGO) established in 2003 and headquartered in Chennai, India, that functions as a Regional Fisheries Advisory Body for the Bay of Bengal. It evolved from the FAO's Bay of Bengal Programme (founded 1979) and serves four member countries — Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka — plus four cooperating non-contracting parties (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand). Its mandate is to provide policy research, technical advisory services, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination for sustainable small-scale marine fisheries and coastal ecosystem management in the region.

The organisation delivers its mission through a portfolio of programmes including BOBLME (Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project), BIMReN (BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network), BOBSAN (stock assessment network), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Fisheries Law and Policy delivered with Tamil Nadu National Law University. Supporting services include a 22-seater specialised library, an information and documentation centre with 50,000+ archived images and 635+ publications, multilingual awareness materials, and event management services. Current research themes span ecosystem approach to fisheries management, climate-risk insurance for fishers, traditional knowledge, and aquaculture-fisheries co-development.

BOBP-IGO is funded through member-country contributions and project-based grants from international donors including FAO, GEF, NORAD, World Bank, UNDP, and GIZ. It operates as a non-commercial advisory body — services are provided at no cost to member governments — with a small secretariat of approximately 6-13 staff led by Director Dr P Krishnan. The organisation is not venture-backed, not publicly listed, and does not generate commercial revenue; its financial model is structurally that of a treaty-based development organisation reliant on sustained political and donor backing.

Name

BAY Of Bengal Programme Intergovernmental Organisation

Legal name

Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation

Website

https://bobpigo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BOBP-IGO is an Inter-Governmental Organisation headquartered in Chennai that serves as the Regional Fisheries Advisory Body for four Bay of Bengal member countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka), delivering policy research, technical advisory, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination for sustainable marine fisheries and coastal ecosystem management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Fisheries Advisory Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Intergovernmental Organizations (BPADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI), Offshore Wind & Marine Spatial Planning Regulation (EUAMANAM)

Keywords

• Regional fisheries advisory
• Marine ecosystem management
• Fisheries policy research
• Capacity building programs
• Intergovernmental cooperation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Intergovernmental Contributions: Member country contributions from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka
2. International Project Funding: Funding from international agencies including GEF (Global Environment Facility), NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), World Bank, UNDP, and GIZ for implementing regional fisheries and marine ecosystem projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BOBP-IGO is a Regional Fisheries Advisory Body that delivers policy research, technical advisory services, capacity-building programs, and regional coordination to its four member countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka) for sustainable management of marine fisheries and coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal. Its offerings include flagship programs (BOBLME, BIMReN, BOBSAN), an academic diploma in fisheries law and policy, fellowships and internships, awareness campaigns, and library/information services, all provided on a non-commercial inter-governmental basis.

Product overview

BOBP-IGO is a Regional Fisheries Advisory Body (RFAB) offering a portfolio of programs, services, and knowledge platforms for sustainable coastal fisheries development in the Bay of Bengal region. The core offerings include BOBLME (regional marine ecosystem management project), BIMReN (research network for BIMSTEC countries), BOBSAN (stock assessment network), PGDFLP (academic diploma program), Waves of Art (awareness series), and BOB Fellows/Internship programs. Supporting services include a specialized library, information documentation, events support, and an IT firm empanelment framework for co-developing digital solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BOBLME (Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project) A regional cooperative framework project addressing sustainability of the Bay of Bengal region through management of fisheries, marine living resources, and their habitats. Phase II is funded by GEF and NORAD and implemented by FAO in partnership with BOBP-IGO, IUCN, and SEAFDEC for member country governments and regional stakeholders.
• BIMReN (BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 high-impact events conducted in 15 years with 3000+ participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023FAO provides overall supervision for the BOBLME Phase II Project. BOBP-IGO serves as one of three executing agencies alongside IUCN and SEAFDEC. FAO has also collaborated on multiple publications including 'Safety at Sea for Small-Scale Fishers' translated into 15 languages.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023IUCN partners with BOBP-IGO and SEAFDEC as executing agencies for BOBLME Phase II. IUCN handles overall regional coordination and Components 2, 4 and 5 of the project focusing on habitat restoration, livelihoods, and regional coordination.
• Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SEAFDEC partners with BOBP-IGO and IUCN as executing agencies for BOBLME Phase II. SEAFDEC handles Components 1, 3 and 5 focused on sustainable fisheries management and pollution management for Southeast Asia.
• ICAR - National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOBP-IGO has collaborated with ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad for research projects and capacity building initiatives.
• BIMSTEC CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOBP-IGO operates BIMReN (BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network) which facilitates networking among marine fisheries researchers from BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar) through twinning projects and split-site fellowships.
• ICAR - Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research projects related to island fisheries and coastal resource management.
• ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on marine fisheries research, stock assessment, and fisheries management initiatives.
• ICAR - Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on fisheries technology research and development.
• Cholamandal Artists VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt collaboration for Waves of Art Series - public awareness program on fisheries issues using art as medium.
• Arnavaz Vasudev CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Waves of Art Series for raising public awareness on fisheries through art.
• Art Cube Gallery, ChennaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Waves of Art Series for raising public awareness on fisheries through art.
• Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNNLU collaborates with BOBP-IGO to offer Post Graduate Diploma in Fisheries Law and Policy (PGDFLP), addressing the gap in legal training for fisheries professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES): Intergovernmental marine science organisation providing scientific advice on marine ecosystems and fisheries in the North Atlantic. Comparable as a multi-country science advisory IGO serving member governments with research and policy guidance.
• Pacific Community (SPC): Regional intergovernmental science and development organisation serving Pacific Island countries. Comparable as a multi-country IGO delivering applied research, advisory and capacity building in natural resources including fisheries.
• Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC): Intergovernmental regional fisheries management organisation for tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. Directly comparable as an IGO delivering fisheries policy, data and capacity building across multiple Indian Ocean member states.
• Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA): Regional intergovernmental organisation supporting aquaculture development across Asia-Pacific. Comparable as an IGO providing advisory, capacity building and research coordination to member governments in fisheries/aquaculture.
• Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT): Regional fisheries management organisation for southern bluefin tuna. Comparable as a small IGO delivering fisheries management, data collection and policy coordination across member states.
• North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC): Regional fisheries management organisation for North Pacific high seas fisheries. Comparable as an IGO providing cooperative fisheries management across multiple sovereign members.
• Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC): Regional fisheries management organisation for highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific. Comparable to BOBP-IGO as a multi-country IGO managing transboundary fisheries via policy and advisory mechanisms.

Regional players

• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS): Indian government agency providing ocean information and advisory services including Potential Fishing Zone forecasts. Comparable as a regional fisheries/ocean advisory body operating in the Bay of Bengal area but as a national entity rather than an IGO.

Emerging players

• WorldFish: International non-profit research organisation delivering aquatic food systems science across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Comparable as a mission-driven organisation delivering fisheries research, policy advice and capacity building, though more research-centric than BOBP-IGO's intergovernmental mandate.
• South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS): India-based federation supporting small-scale and artisanal fisherfolk across South India. Comparable as an organisation addressing small-scale fisheries livelihoods in the Bay of Bengal region, though as a civil society body rather than an IGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BOBP_IGO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BOBPIGO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bay-of-bengal-programme-intergovernmental-organisation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BAY Of Bengal Programme Intergovernmental Organisation