Greening the blue revolution of small-scale freshwater aquaculture in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Rapid development of small-scale freshwater aquaculture in the Mymensingh district of north-central Bangladesh has been linked to a ‘blue revolution’. Mymensingh is ranked first among districts of pond fish production in Bangladesh. Aquaculture in Mymensingh plays an important role in the local economy, contributing to food production, livelihood opportunities, income generation, poverty alleviation and social transformation. However, a number of challenges, particularly social, economic and environmental issues, will need to be overcome to translate its benefits effectively. We propose a conceptual framework for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture, which links social, economic and ecological aspects for promoting the importance of socio-ecological, ecological-economic and socio-economic interactions. We conclude that active community participation, institutional collaboration and policy support are needed for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture in Mymensingh.