Fisheries and the aquaculture sector can play a significant role in the achievement of several of the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda. However, the current COVID-19 situation can negatively impact the fisheries sector, impeding the pace of the achievement of development goals. Therefore, this paper highlighted the performance and challenges of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh, emphasising the impact of COVID-19 and the significance of this sector for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through primary fieldwork and secondary data. The total fish production in the country has increased more than six times over the last three decades (7.54 to 43.84 lakh MT) with improved culture techniques and extension services. Inland closed water contributions have increased to 16%, while inland open water has declined to 10%, and marine fisheries have dropped to 6% over the past 18 financial years (2000–2001 to 2018–2019). COVID-19, a significant health crisis, has also affected various issues associated with aquatic resources and communities. Transportation obstacles and complexity in the food supply, difficulty in starting production, labour crisis, sudden illness, insufficient consumer demand, commodity price hikes, creditor’s pressure, and reduced income were identified as COVID-19 drivers affecting the fisheries sector. The combined effect of these drivers poses a significant threat to a number of the SDGs, such as income (SDG1), nutrition (SDG2), and food security (SDG3 and SDG12), which require immediate and comprehensive action. Several recommendations were discussed, the implementation of which are important to the achievement of the SDGs and the improved management of the aquatic sector (SDG14—life below, and SDG16—life above water).

By employing empirical and secondary data (qualitative and quantitative), this study demonstrates how social equity (with its three dimensions) can meaningfully address the conservation of the coastal social–ecological system (SES), without losing diverse ecosystem services (ES) in south-east coastal Bangladesh. Based on this proposition, this study assesses the available ES and identifies the drivers responsible for ES changes, arguing for the application of social equity for resource conservation. The findings show that communities along Bangladesh’s south-eastern coast use several ES for food, medicine, income, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. However, this valuable ecosystem is currently experiencing numerous threats and stressors of anthropogenic and natural origin. In particular, large-scale development activities, driven by the blue growth agenda, and neoliberalism policy, pose a risk to the local communities by degrading coastal ecosystem services. Escaping this situation for coastal natural resource-dependent communities in Bangladesh will require a transformation in the governance structure. Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Guidelines that call for initiating policy change to deliver social justice to small-scale fisheries would help to address coastal ecosystem service conservation in Bangladesh.

Climate change-induced sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, sudden water surge, natural calamities, etc. affect the fish biodiversity, food security, and coastal livelihoods that highlight the necessities of developing climate-resilient strategies e.g. adaptive aquaculture techniques. Cage culture of salinity-tolerant fish may be an adaptation strategy to compensate for the losses of freshwater fish production by climate change in coastal areas. Therefore, a 120-day long field experiment was conducted to evaluate the cage culture potentiality of Mystus gulio in the coastal region of Bangladesh. Three treatments at the stocking density of 90 (T₁), 135 (T₂), and 180 (T₃)/m² were stocked in nine cages (1.115 m²). Significantly (p<0.05) higher growth performance and feed utilization were recorded in T₁ followed by T₂ and T₃. In return, considering overall growth, survival, production, coast-benefit analysis, T₂ was found more profitable followed by T₃ and T₁. This result revealed that the culture of M. gulio in floating net cages might be a potential climate-adaptive aquaculture technique in the coastal region. However, further research works are necessary for optimizing stocking density, nutrition, social acceptance, etc. before conclude it as a viable climate-resilient adaptive aquaculture practice.

Ephemeral wetland communities face unique adaptation challenges due to extreme seasonal flooding and drying cycles, yet remain understudied in climate research. This study investigates the factors shaping household adaptation choices in the haor wetlands of Sunamganj, Bangladesh. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, data were collected from 420 households through surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Binary logistic regression was employed to analyze the determinants of adopting eight adaptation strategies. Results show that socio-economic and demographic characteristics significantly influenced adaptation. Household income, farming experience, and education were positively associated with adoption of strategies such as high-yielding varieties, crop diversification, and homestead gardening. In contrast, poverty and low literacy constrained the uptake of technology-dependent measures. Access to credit also revealed counterintuitive effects, with many households prioritizing short-term investments over long-term structural adaptation. Qualitative findings highlighted cultural framings, including superstitious beliefs, that shaped perceptions of climate change and influenced adaptation choices. Policy implications include the need for literacy-sensitive climate information dissemination, poverty alleviation measures, and integration of local innovations into national frameworks such as the National Adaptation Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals.