The Bay of Bengal Programme is an Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) mandated to enhance cooperation among member countries, other countries and organisations in the region and provide technical and management advisory services for sustainable coastal fisheries development and management in the Bay of Bengal region. It assists the member countries -- Bangladesh, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka -- in sustaining fisheries production and ensuring livelihood security for millions of fisher folk in the region. BOBP-IGO took part in the FAO Committee on Fisheries (Rome, 7-11 March 2005) and is a key FAO's partner in the rehabilitation plans and strategies after