Coordinates: 15°N 88°E

Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian
Bay of Bengal
Ocean, bounded on the west and northwest by India, on the
north by Bangladesh, and on the east by Myanmar and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. Its southern limit is a
line between Sangaman Kanda, Sri Lanka, and the north
westernmost point of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is the largest
water region called a bay in the world. There are countries
dependent on the Bay of Bengal in South Asia and
Southeast Asia. During the existence of British India, it was
named as the Bay of Bengal after the historic Bengal region.
At the time, the Port of Kolkata served as the gateway to the
Crown rule in India. Cox's Bazar, the longest sea beach in
the world and Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest and
the natural habitat of the Bengal tiger, are located along the
bay.

The Bay of Bengal occupies an area of 2,600,000 square Map of Bay of Bengal
kilometres (1,000,000 sq mi). A number of large rivers flow Location South Asia and
into the Bay of Bengal: the Ganges–Hooghly, the Padma,
Southeast Asia
the Brahmaputra–Yamuna, the Barak–Surma–Meghna, the
Irrawaddy, the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Brahmani, the Coordinates 15°N 88°E
Baitarani, the Krishna and the Kaveri. Type Bay

Important ports include Krishnapatnam, Chennai, Ennore, Primary inflows Indian Ocean
Chittagong, Colombo, Kolkata-Haldia, Mongla, Paradip, Basin countries Bangladesh
Port Blair, Matarbari, Thoothukudi, Visakhapatnam and India
Dhamra. Among the smaller ports are Gopalpur Port, Indonesia
Kakinada and Payra. Myanmar
Sri Lanka[1][2]

Max. length 2,090 km (1,300 mi)

Contents
Max. width 1,610 km (1,000 mi)
Background
Surface area 2,600,000 km2
Extent
(1,000,000 sq mi)
Etymology
Average depth 2,600 m (8,500 ft)
History
Historic sites Max. depth 4,694 m (15,400 ft)
Marine archaeology
Shipwrecks and important shipping
incidences
Significance
Economic importance
Geostrategic importance
Religious importance
Key features
Beaches
Islands
Rivers
Seaports
Oceanography
Geology
Lithosphere and plate tectonics
Marine geology
Submarine fans
Oceanographic chemistry
Oceanographic climate
Marine biology, flora and fauna
Transboundary issues
Ecological degradation
Fisheries overexploitation
Marine habitats degradation
Environmental degradation
Environmental hazards
Pollution and water quality
Tropical storms and cyclones
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Background

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bay of Bengal as follows:[3]

On the east: A line running from Cape Negrais (16°03'N) in Burma through the
larger islands of the Andaman group, in such a way that all the narrow waters
between the islands lie Eastward of the line and are excluded from the Bay of
Bengal, as far as a point in Little Andaman Island in latitude 10°48'N, longitude
92°24'E and thence along the Southwest limit of the Burma Sea [A line running from
"Oedjong Raja" ["Ujung Raja" or "Point Raja"] (5°32′N 95°12′E) in Sumatra to
Poeloe Bras (Breuëh) and on through the Western Islands of the Nicobar Group to
Sandy Point in Little Andaman Island, in such a way that all the narrow waters
appertain to the Burma Sea].

On the south: Adam's Bridge (between India and Ceylon) and from the Southern
extreme of Dondra Head (South point of Ceylon) to the North point of Poeloe Bras
(5°44′N 95°04′E).
Note: Oedjong means "cape" in Dutch language on maps of the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia).[4]

Etymology

The bay gets its name from the historical Bengal region (modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian states of
West Bengal, Tripura and the Barak valley of Southern Assam). In Ancient Indian scriptures, this water
body may have been referred to as 'Mahodadhi' (Sanskrit: महोदधि, lit. Great water receptacle)[5][6] while it
appears as Sinus Gangeticus or Gangeticus Sinus, meaning "Gulf of the Ganges", in ancient maps.[7]

The other Sanskrit names for Bay of Bengal are 'Vaṅgopasāgara' (Sanskrit: वङ्गोपसागर, lit. Bengal Sub-sea
or Bengal Bay), 'Vaṅgasāgara' (Sanskrit: वङ्गसागर, lit. Bengal Sea), 'Pūrvapayodhi' (Sanskrit: पूर्वपयोधि, lit.
Eastern Ocean).

History

In ancient Classical India, the Bay of Bengal was known as

Kalinga Sagar (Kalinga Sea).[8][9]

Northern Circars occupied the western coast of the Bay of Bengal

and is now considered to be India's Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
state. Chola dynasty (9th century to 12th century) when ruled by
Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I occupied and controlled the
Bay of Bengal with Chola Navy circa AD  1014, The Bay of
Ross Island, in the Andamans, was
Bengal was also called the Chola Sea or Chola Lake.[8] one of the main naval bases of India
during World War II
The Kakatiya dynasty reached the western coastline of the Bay of
Bengal between the Godavari and the Krishna rivers. Kushanas
about the middle of the 1st century AD invaded northern India
perhaps extending as far as the Bay of Bengal. Chandragupta Maurya extended the Maurya Dynasty across
northern India to the Bay of Bengal. Hajipur was a stronghold for Portuguese Pirates. In the 16th century
the Portuguese built trading posts in the north of the Bay of Bengal at Chittagong (Porto Grande) and
Satgaon (Porto Pequeno).[10]

Historic sites

In alphabetical order:

Antarvedi is a popular place of worship Southern India,

in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh devoted to
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. This is the
place where one of the distributaries of Godavari River
meets the Bay of Bengal.[11]
Arikamedu is an archaeological site in Southern India, in
Kakkayanthope, Ariyankuppam Commune, Puducherry.
The Shore Temple, a UNESCO
It is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the capital, Pondicherry of
the Indian territory of Puducherry World Heritage Site on the shore of
the Bay of Bengal.
British penal colony: Cellular Jail or "Black Waters" built
in 1896 on Ross Island, a part of the Andaman Island
Chain. As early as 1858 this island was used as a British
penal colony for political prisoners facing life imprisonment.[12]
 Buddhist heritage sites of Pavurallakonda, Thotlakonda and Bavikonda lie along the coast
of Bay of Bengal at Visakhapatnam in India.
Konark is the home of the Sun Temple or Black Pagoda. This Brahman sanctuary was built
of black granite mid-1200 AD and has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Jagannath Temple at Puri is the one of the four sacred places in Hindu pilgrimage along with
Puri beach on the banks of Bay of Bengal. Mahodadhi was named after Lord Jagannath.
Ramanathaswamy Temple is at Dhanushkodi, where the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of
Mannar come together.[13]
Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram is the name for Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram's Shore
Temple, a World Heritage Site was constructed in the 8th century AD and myth has it that six
other temples were built here.
Sri Vaisakheswara Swamy temple lies two kilometers from the Visakhapatnam coast under
the Bay of Bengal's sea bed. Spokespeople from Andhra University Centre for Marine
Archaeology say the temple may be opposite the Coastal Battery.[14]
Vivekanandar Illam was constructed in 1842 by the American "Ice King" Frederic Tudor to
store and market ice year round. In 1897, Swami Vivekananda's famous lectures were
recorded here at Castle Kernan. The site is an exhibition devoted to Swami Vivekananda
and his legacy.

Marine archaeology

Maritime archaeology or marine archaeology is the study of how ancient peoples interacted with the sea
and waterways. A specialized branch, archaeology of shipwrecks, studies the salvaged artifacts of ancient
ships. Stone anchors, amphorae shards, elephant tusks, hippopotamus teeth, ceramic pottery, a rare wood
mast and lead ingots are examples which may survive submerged for centuries for archaeologists to
discover, study, and place their salvaged findings into the timeline of history. Coral reefs, tsunamis,
cyclones, mangrove swamps, battles, and a criss-cross of sea routes in a high trading area combined with
piracy have all contributed to shipwrecks in the Bay of Bengal.[15]

Shipwrecks and important shipping incidences

In chronological order:

1778 to 1783: The Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War or American War of
Independence ranged as far as the Bay of Bengal.
c. 1816: Mornington ship burned in the Bay of Bengal.[16]
1850: American clipper brig Eagle is supposed to have sunk in the Bay of Bengal.[17]
American Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson died 12 April 1850 and was buried at sea in
the Bay of Bengal.
1855: The Bark "Incredible" struck on a sunken rock in the Bay of Bengal.[18]
1865: a gale dismasted the Euterpe while traversing the Bay of Bengal typhoon.
1875: Veleda - 76 m (250 ft) long and 15 m (50 ft) wide. It is part of a current salvage
operation.[19]
1942: Japanese cruiser Yura of the Second Expeditionary Fleet, Malay Force, attacked
merchant ships in the Bay of Bengal.
1971: December 3 – Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Ghazi sunk under mysterious
circumstances, near Visakhapatnam, in the Bay of Bengal.
Significance

Economic importance

One of the first trading ventures along the Bay of Bengal was The Company of Merchants of London
Trading into the East Indies, more commonly referred to as the British East India Company. Gopalpur-on-
Sea was one of their main trading centers. Other trading companies along the Bay of Bengal shorelines
were the English East India Company and the French East India Company.[20]

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) supports
free trade internationally around the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project is a new venture proposed which would create a channel for a
shipping route to link the Gulf of Mannar with the Bay of Bengal. This would connect India from east to
west without the necessity of going around Sri Lanka.

Thoni and catamaran fishing boats of fishing villages thrive along the Bay of Bengal shorelines. Fishermen
can catch between 26 and 44 species of marine fish.[21] In one year, the average catch is two million tons of
fish from the Bay of Bengal alone.[22] Approximately 31% of the world's coastal fishermen live and work
on the bay.[23]

Geostrategic importance

The Bay of Bengal is centrally located in South and Southeast Asia. It lies at the center of two huge
economic blocks, the SAARC and ASEAN. It influences China's southern landlocked region in the north
and major sea ports of India and Bangladesh. China, India, and Bangladesh have forged naval cooperation
agreements with Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia to increase cooperation in checking terrorism in the high
seas.[24]

Its outlying islands (the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and,

most importantly, major ports such as Paradip Kolkata,
Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Tuticorin, Chittagong, and Mongla,
along its coast with the Bay of Bengal added to its
importance.[25]

China has recently made efforts to project influence into the

region through tie-ups with Myanmar and Bangladesh.[26] The
United States has held major exercises with Bangladesh,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and recently Image of United States ships participating
India. [27][28][29][30] The largest ever wargame in Bay of in the Malabar 2007 naval exercise. Aegis
Bengal, known as Malabar 2007, was held in 2007 and naval cruisers from the navies of Japan and
warships from US, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, Japan Australia, and logistical support ships
and Australia took part. India was a participant. from Singapore and India in the Bay of
Bengal took part.
Large deposits of natural gas in the areas within Bangladesh's
sea zone incited a serious urgency by India and Myanmar into
a territorial dispute.[24] Disputes over rights of some oil and gas blocks have caused brief diplomatic spats
between Myanmar and India with Bangladesh.
The disputed maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar resulted in military tensions in 2008
and 2009. Bangladesh is pursuing a settlement with Myanmar and India to the boundary dispute through
the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.[31]

Religious importance

The Bay of Bengal in the stretch of Swargadwar, the gateway to heaven in Sanskrit, in the Indian town of
Puri is considered holy by Hindus.

The Samudra arati is a daily tradition started by the present

Shankaracharya of Puri 9 years ago to honour the sacred sea.[32]
The daily practise includes prayer and fire offering to the sea at
Swargadwar in Puri by disciples of the Govardhana matha of the
Shankaracharya. On Paush Purnima of every year the
Shankaracharya himself comes out to offer prayers to the sea.

Key features Samudra arati or worship of the sea

by disciples of the Govardhan Matha
at Puri

Beaches

The Sunderbans bordering the Bay of

Bengal is the largest single block of tidal
halophytic mangrove forest in the
world.[33]

Cox's Bazar, the longest stretch of beach

in the world.[34]
 Sea Beach Location

Cox's Bazar  Bangladesh

Kuakata  Bangladesh

St. Martin's Island  Bangladesh

Sonadia  Bangladesh

Nijhum Dwip  Bangladesh

Inani Beach  Bangladesh

Teknaf  Bangladesh

Patenga  Bangladesh

Bakkhali Beach, West Bengal  India

Digha Beach, West Bengal  India

Mandarmoni Beach, West Bengal  India

Tajpur Beach, West Bengal  India

Shankarpur Beach, West Bengal  India

Talasari Beach, Odisha  India

Chandipur, Odisha  India

Gahirmatha Beach, Odisha  India

Astaranga, Odisha  India

Chandrabhaga beach, Konark, Odisha  India

Puri, Odisha  India

Gopalpur, Odisha  India

Baruva, Andhra Pradesh  India

Bheemili, Andhra Pradesh  India

RK Beach, Visakhapatnam  India

Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam  India

Yarada, Visakhapatnam  India

Manginapudi Beach, Andhra Pradesh  India

Manginapudi Beach, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh  India

Mypadu Beach, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh  India

Marina Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu  India

Edward Elliot's Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu  India

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu  India

Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu  India

Silver Beach, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu  India

Tuticorin Beach, Tamil Nadu  India

 Rameswaram Beach, Tamil Nadu  India

Velankanni Beach, Tamil Nadu  India

Serenity Beach, Pondicherry  India

Promenade Beach, Pondicherry  India

Radhanagar Beach, Andaman & Nicobar Islands  India

Ulee Lheue beach  Indonesia

Alur Nunang Beach  Indonesia

Ngapali  Myanmar

Ngwesaung  Myanmar

Chaungtha, Pathein  Myanmar

Sittwe  Myanmar

Casuarina Beach, Jaffna  Sri Lanka

Trincomalee  Sri Lanka

Navaladi Beach, Batticaloa  Sri Lanka

Galle Face  Sri Lanka

Islands

The islands in the bay are numerous, including the Andaman

Islands, Nicobar Islands and Mergui Archipelago of India and
Myanmar. The Cheduba group of islands, in the north-east, off the
Burmese coast, are remarkable for a chain of mud volcanoes,
which are occasionally active.[35]

Great Andaman is the main archipelago or island group of the

Andaman Islands, whereas Ritchie's Archipelago consists of
Havelock Island, Andaman and
smaller islands. Only 37, or 6.5%, of the 572 islands and islets of
Nicobar Islands
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are inhabited.[36]

Rivers

Many major Rivers of India and Bangladesh flow west to east before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The
Ganga is the northernmost of these rivers. Its main channel enters and flows through Bangladesh, where it
is known as the Padma River, before joining the Meghna River. However, the Brahmaputra River flows
from east to west in Assam before turning south and entering Bangladesh where it is called the Jamuna
River. This joins the Padma where upon the Padma joins the Meghna River that finally drains into Bay of
Bengal. The Sundarbans is a mangrove forest in the southern part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta which
lies in the Indian state of West Bengal and in Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra at 2,948 km (1,832 mi) is the
28th longest River in the world. It originates in Tibet. The Hooghly River, another channel of the Ganga
that flows through Kolkata drains into Bay of Bengal at Sagar in West Bengal, India.
The Ganga–Brahmaputra-Barak rivers deposit nearly 1000  million tons of sediment every year. The
sediment from these three rivers form the Bengal Delta and the submarine fan, a vast structure that extends
from Bengal to south of the Equator, is up to 16.5 kilometres (10.3  mi) thick, and contains at least
1,130 trillion tonnes of sediment, which has accumulated over the last 17 million years at an average rate of
665 million tons per annum.[37] The fan has buried organic carbon at a rate of nearly 1.1  trillion mol/yr
(13.2  million t/yr) since the early Miocene period. The three rivers currently contribute nearly 8% of the
total organic carbon (TOC) deposited in the world's oceans. Due to high TOC accumulation in the deep sea
bed of the Bay of Bengal, the area is rich in oil and natural gas and gas hydrate reserves. Bangladesh can
reclaim land substantially and economically gain from the sea area by constructing sea dikes, bunds,
causeways and by trapping the sediment from its rivers.

Further southwest of Bengal, the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri Rivers also flow from west to
east across Deccan Plateau in Peninsular India and drain into the Bay of Bengal forming deltas. Many small
rivers also drain directly into the Bay of Bengal forming estuaries; the shortest of them is the Cooum River
at 64 km (40 mi).

The Irrawaddy (or Ayeyarwady) River in Myanmar flows into the Andaman Sea of the Bay of Bengal and
once had thick mangrove forests of its own.

Seaports

Indian ports on the bay include Paradip Port, Kolkata Port,

Haldia Port, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Pondicherry,
Dhamra, Gopalpur and Bangladeshi ports on the Bay are
Chittagong, Mongla, Payra Port.

Oceanography
In alphabetical order
The city of Visakhapatnam in India is a
major port of the Bay of Bengal.
Geology

Lithosphere and plate tectonics

The lithosphere of the earth is broken up into what are called tectonic plates. Underneath the Bay of
Bengal, which is part of the great Indo-Australian Plate and is slowly moving north east. This plate meets
the Burma Microplate at the Sunda Trench. The Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Islands are part of the
Burma Microplate. The India Plate subducts beneath the Burma Plate at the Sunda Trench or Java Trench.
Here, the pressure of the two plates on each other increase pressure and temperature resulting in the
formation of volcanoes such as the volcanoes in Myanmar, and a volcanic arc called the Sunda Arc. The
Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and Asian tsunami was a result of the pressure at this zone causing a
submarine earthquake which then resulted in a destructive tsunami.[38]

Marine geology

A zone 50 m wide extending from the island of Sri Lanka and the Coromandel coast to the head of the bay,
and thence southwards through a strip embracing the Andaman and Nicobar islands, is bounded by the 100
fathom line of sea bottom; some 50 m. beyond this lies the 500-fathom limit. Opposite the mouth of the
Ganges, however, the intervals between these depths are very much
extended by deltaic influence.[35]

Swatch of No Ground is a 14 km-wide deep sea canyon of the Bay

of Bengal. The deepest recorded area of this valley is about 1340
m.[39] The submarine canyon is part of the Bengal Fan, the largest
submarine fan in the world.[40][41]

Submarine fans
Bay of Bengal near Tenneti Park,
Submarine fan is also known as abyssal fan. Bay of Bengal fan, Visakhapatnam.
known as Bengal Fan, also known as the Ganges Fan is world's
largest abyssal fan, also known as deep-sea fans, underwater deltas,
and submarine fans. The fan is about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) long, 1,430 km (890 mi) wide with a maximum
thickness of 16.5 km (10.3 mi).[42] The fan resulted from the uplift and erosion of the Himalayas and the
Tibetan Plateau produced by the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Most of the
sediment is supplied by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers which supply the Lower Meghna delta in
Bangladesh and the Hoogly delta in West Bengal (India). Several other large rivers in Bangladesh and
India provide smaller contributions.[40] Turbidity currents have transported the sediment through a series of
submarine canyons, some of which are more than 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) in length, to be deposited in
the Bay of Bengal up to 30 degrees latitude from where it began. To date, the oldest sediments recovered
from the Bengal fan are from Early Miocene age.[43] Their mineralogical and geochemical characteristics
allow to identify their Himalayan origin and demonstrate that the Himalaya was already a major mountain
range 20 million years ago.[44]

The fan completely covers the floor of the Bay of Bengal.[45] It is bordered to the west by the continental
slope of eastern India, to the north by the continental slope of Bangladesh and to east by the northern part
of Sunda Trench off Myanmar and the Andaman Islands, the accretionary wedge associated with
subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Sunda Plate and continues along the west side of the
Ninety East Ridge.[45][41] The Nicobar Fan, another lobe of the fan, lies east of the Ninety East Ridge.[41]

The fan is now being explored as a possible source of fossil fuels for the surrounding developing nations.

The fan was first identified by bathymetric survey in the sixties by Bruce C. Heezen and Marie Tharp
which identified the abyssal cone and canyon structures. It was delineated and named by Joseph Curray
and David Moore following a geological and geophysical survey in 1968.[41][46]

Oceanographic chemistry

Coastal regions bordering the Bay of Bengal are rich in minerals. Sri Lanka, Serendib, or Ratna – Dweepa
which means Gem Island. Amethyst, beryl, ruby, sapphire, topaz, and garnet are just some of the gems of
Sri Lanka. Garnet and other precious gems are also found in abundance in the Indian states of Odisha and
Andhra Pradesh.[47]

Oceanographic climate

From January to October, the current is northward flowing, and the clockwise circulation pattern is called
the "East Indian Current". The Bay of Bengal monsoon moves in a northwest direction striking the Nicobar
Islands, and the Andaman Islands first end of May, then coast of Mainland India by end of June.
The remainder of the year, the counterclockwise current is southwestward flowing, and the circulation
pattern is called the East Indian Winter Jet. September and December see very active weather, season
varsha (or monsoon), in the Bay of Bengal producing severe cyclones which affect eastern India. Several
efforts have been initiated to cope with storm surge.[48]

Marine biology, flora and fauna

The Bay of Bengal is full of biological diversity, diverging amongst

coral reefs, estuaries, fish spawning and nursery areas, and
mangroves. The Bay of Bengal is one of the World's 64 largest
marine ecosystems.

Kerilia jerdonii is a sea snake of the Bay of Bengal. Glory of

Bengal cone (Conus bengalensis) is just one of the seashells which
can be photographed along beaches of the Bay of Bengal.[49] An
A spinner dolphin in Bay of Bengal
endangered species, the olive ridley sea turtle can survive because
of the nesting grounds made available at the Gahirmatha Marine
Wildlife Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Beach, Odisha, India. Marlin,
barracuda, skipjack tuna, (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna,
Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin (Sousa chinensis), and Bryde's
whale (Balaenoptera edeni) are a few of the marine animals. Bay
of Bengal hogfish (Bodianus neilli) is a type of wrasse which live
in turbid lagoon reefs or shallow coastal reefs. Schools of dolphins
can be seen, whether they are the bottle nose dolphin (Tursiops
truncatus), pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) or the
spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Tuna and dolphins usually
reside in the same waters. In shallower and warmer coastal waters Tachypleus gigas in Odisha
the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) can be found.[50][51]

The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve provides sanctuary to many animals some of which include the
saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), giant leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and
Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis kamaroma) to name a few.

Another endangered species royal Bengal tiger is supported by Sundarbans a large estuarine delta that
holds a mangrove area in the Ganges River Delta.[52][53]

Transboundary issues
A transboundary issue is defined as an environmental problem in which either the cause of the problem
and/or its impact is separated by a national boundary; or the problem contributes to a global environmental
problem and finding regional solutions is considered to be a global environmental benefit. The eight Bay of
Bengal countries have (2012) identified three major transboundary problems (or areas of concern) affecting
the health of the Bay, that they can work on together. With the support of the Bay Of Bengal Large Marine
Ecosystem Project (BOBLME), the eight countries are now (2012) developing responses to these issues
and their causes, for future implementation as the Strategic Action Programme.

Ecological degradation

Fisheries overexploitation
Fisheries production in the Bay of Bengal is six million tonnes
per year, more than seven percent of the world's catch. The
major transboundary issues relating to shared fisheries are: a
decline in the overall availability of fish resources; changes in
species composition of catches; the high proportion of juvenile
fish in the catch; and changes in marine biodiversity, especially
through loss of vulnerable and endangered species. The
transboundary nature of these issues are: that many fish stocks
are shared between BOBLME countries through the Some small fishing boats are catching
transboundary migration of fish, or larvae. Fishing overlaps fish & sell them in local coastal markets.
national jurisdictions, both legally and illegally – overcapacity
and overfishing in one location forces a migration of fishers
and vessels to other locations. All countries (to a greater or lesser degree) are experiencing difficulties in
implementing fisheries management, especially the ecosystem approach to fisheries. Bay of Bengal
countries contribute significantly to the global problem of loss of vulnerable and endangered species.
The
main causes of the issues are: open access to fishing grounds; Government emphasis on increasing fish
catches; inappropriate government subsidies provided to fishers; increasing fishing effort, especially from
trawlers and purse seiners; high consumer demand for fish, including for seed and fishmeal for aquaculture;
ineffective fisheries management; and illegal and destructive fishing.

Marine habitats degradation

The Bay of Bengal is an area of high biodiversity, with many endangered and vulnerable species. The
major transboundary issues relating to habitats are: the loss and degradation of mangrove habitats;
degradation of coral reefs; and the loss of, and damage to, seagrasses. The transboundary nature of these
major issues are: that all three critical habitats occur in all BOBLME countries. Coastal development for
several varying uses of the land and sea are common in all BOBLME countries. Trade in products from all
the habitats is transboundary in nature. Climate change impacts are shared by all BOBLME countries.
The
main causes of the issues are: food security needs of the coastal poor; lack of coastal development plans;
increasing trade in products from coastal habitats; coastal development and industrialization; ineffective
marine protected areas and lack of enforcement; upstream development that affects water-flow; intensive
upstream agricultural practices; and increasing tourism.

Environmental degradation

Environmental hazards

The Asian brown cloud, a layer of air pollution that covers much of South Asia and the Indian Ocean every
year between January and March, and possibly also during earlier and later months, hangs over the Bay of
Bengal. It is considered to be a combination of vehicle exhaust, smoke from
cooking fires, and industrial
discharges.[54] Because of this cloud, satellites attempting to track ocean acidification and other ocean
health indicators in the Bay have difficulty obtaining accurate measurements.[55]

Pollution and water quality

The major transboundary issues relating to pollution and water quality are: sewage-borne pathogens and
organic load; solid waste/marine litter; increasing nutrient inputs; oil pollution; persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) and persistent toxic substances (PTSs); sedimentation; and heavy metals.
The transboundary nature
of these issues are: discharge of untreated/partially treated sewage being a common problem. Sewage and
organic discharges from the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River are likely to be transboundary. Plastics
and derelict fishing gear can be transported long distances across national boundaries. High nutrient
discharges from rivers could intensify largescale hypoxia. Atmospheric transport of nutrients is inherently
transboundary. Differences between countries with regard to regulation and enforcement of shipping
discharges may drive discharges across boundaries. Tar balls are transported long distances. POPs/PTSs
and mercury, including organo-mercury, undergo long-range transport. Sedimentation and most heavy
metal contamination tend to be localized and lack a strong transboundary dimension.
The main causes of
the issues are: increasing coastal population density and urbanization; higher consumption, resulting in
more waste generated per person; insufficient funds allocated to waste management; migration of industry
into BOBLME countries; and proliferation of small industries.

Tropical storms and cyclones

A tropical storm with rotating winds blowing at speeds of 119 km/h

(74 mph) is called a cyclone when they originate over the Bay of
Bengal, and called a hurricane in the Atlantic.[56] Between 100,000
and 500,000 residents of Bangladesh were killed because of the
1970 Bhola cyclone.

2021, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas

2020, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nivar
2020, Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan
2019, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Bulbul
2019, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani
2018, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Gaja
2018, Cyclone Titli
2017, Severe Cyclonic Storm Mora
Cyclone Sidr at its peak near
2017, Cyclone Maarutha
Bangladesh
2016, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vardah
2016, Cyclone Nada
2016, Cyclone Kyant
2016, Cyclone Roanu
2015, Cyclone Komen
2014, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud
2013, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Phailin
2013, Cyclone Viyaru
2012, Cyclone Nilam
2011, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Thane
2010, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Giri
2009, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Aila
2008, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis
2007, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Sidr
2006, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Mala
1999, Odisha Super Cyclonic Storm 05B
1996, Konaseema Cyclone
1991, Super Cyclonic Storm 02B
1989, November Typhoon Gay
 1985, May Tropical Storm One (1B)
1982, April Cyclone One (1B)
1982, May Tropical Storm Two (2B)
1982, October Tropical Storm Three (3B)
1981, December Cyclone Three (3B)
1980, October Tropical Storm One (1B)
1980, December Unknown Storm Four (4B)
1980, December Tropical Storm Five (5B)
1977, Andhra Pradesh Cyclone (6B)
1971, Odisha cyclone
1970, November Bhola cyclone
The 1864 Calcutta Cyclone: caused a storm surge of 40 feet. Barometer 28.025 inches of
mercury. 50,000 direct deaths and 30,000 from disease.[57]
The Backergunge cyclone of 1876: 10 to 30 or 40 feet storm surge. 100,000 direct deaths
and 100,000 indirect from disease.[57]
The False Point cyclone of 1885: 22 feet of storm surge. Barometer 27.135 inches of
mercury.[57]

See also
History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia
Maritime Silk Road

References
1. "Map of Bay of Benglal- World Seas, Bay of Bengal Map Location – World Atlas" (http://ww
w.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/baybengal.htm). 4 February 2021.
2. Chowdhury, Sifatul Quader (2012). "Bay of Bengal" (http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?titl
e=Bay_of_Bengal). In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National
Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
3. "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/htt
p://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf) (PDF). International
Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Archived from the original (https://iho.int/uploads/user/pub
s/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf) (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved
28 December 2020.
4. Glossary of Terms Appearing on Maps of the Netherlands East Indies (https://books.google.c
om.sg/books?id=OIAsAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=Oedjong+meaning&source=
bl&ots=UP3kq0rIlP&sig=ACfU3U1PIKUnYDyUgThN9D5R_VFQmA8miA&hl=en&sa=X&ve
d=2ahUKEwiWvZOh17nqAhXTlEsFHeVGDwgQ6AEwCXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Oed
jong%20meaning&f=false), United States Army Map Service, page 115.
5. Kuttan (2009). The Great Philosophers of India (https://books.google.com/books?id=nERVR
xj22W0C&pg=PA243). AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1434377807.
6. "Dhanushkodi" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140308014348/http://www.indiatourism4u.in/t
ourism/960/Tamil-Nadu/Dhanushkodi). indiatourism4u.in. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.indiatourism4u.in/tourism/960/Tamil-Nadu/Dhanushkodi/) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved
21 August 2013.
7. 1794, Orbis Veteribus Notus by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville
 8. Agarwala, Nitin (2020), "The Re-Emergence of the Bay of Bengal" (https://www.jstor.org/stab
le/jtms.7.2.49), The Journal of Territorial and Maritime Studies, McFarland & Company, 7 (2):
52
9. Mohanty, PC (November 2011), Maritime Trade of Ancient Kalinga (http://magazines.odisha.
gov.in/Orissareview/2011/Nov/engpdf/39-41.pdf) (PDF), Orissa Review, p. 41
10. The Portuguese in Bengal. History of Ugolim (Hoogli), Meliapore ... (http://www.colonialvoya
ge.com/bengal.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070203140122/http://www.col
onialvoyage.com/bengal.html) 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed 21
January 2007
11. Chakravorty, Sohini (5 January 2012). "In the lap of Godavari, all the time to sit and stare" (ht
tps://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/in-the-lap-of-godavari-all-the-time-to-sit-and-star
e/article2777546.ece.). The Hindu.
12. "History of Andaman Cellular Jail: Recapture of Andaman Islands to keep Political
Prisoners" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070113111037/http://www.andamancellularjail.or
g/History.htm). AndamanCellularJail.org. Archived from the original (http://www.andamancell
ularjail.org/History.htm##Link2) on 13 January 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
13. "Ramayana" (https://web.archive.org/web/20050816184403/http://ramayana.com/holy_place
s.htm). Ramayana.com. 16 August 2005. Archived from the original (http://ramayana.com/hol
y_places.htm) on 16 August 2005.
14. Morien Institute – underwater discoveries news archive, January–June 2006, "Sri
Vaisakheswara still lies underwater" (http://www.morien-institute.org/uwnews2006a.html);
accessed 22 January 2007
15. Marine Archaeology in India (http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/30/3/Man_Environ_29_28.
pdf) URL accessed 22 January 2007
16. Shipwrecks 1816–1818 (http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/Wrecks/wrecks1816-1818.shtml)
URL accessed 10 January 2015
17. The Maritime Heritage Project: Gold Rush Ships, Passengers, Captains (http://www.maritim
eheritage.org/ships/wrecks.html) URL accessed 23 January 2007
18. Shipping Notes from the 1800s – P.E.I. (http://www.islandregister.com/shippingnotes.html)
URL accessed 23 January 2007
19. Diving-News.com » Wrecks (https://web.archive.org/web/20060517192506/http://diving-indu
stry.com/news/2006/05/06/sunken-ship-possibly-older-than-titanic-discovered/) URL
accessed 23 January 2007
20. Nabataea: Trade on the Bay of Bengal (http://nabataea.net/bengal.html) URL accessed 21
January 2007
21. "Environmental assessment of coastal water at Bakkhali" (https://web.archive.org/web/2015
0226082556/http://dspace.jdvu.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/20383/1/Acc.%20No.%20DC%2
0129.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://dspace.jdvu.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/20
383/1/Acc.%20No.%20DC%20129.pdf) (PDF) on 26 February 2015.
22. "LME 34 Bay of Bengal" (https://archive.today/20030418122740/http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/lm
e/text/lme34.htm). NOAA. Archived from the original (http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/lme/text/lme3
4.htm) on 18 April 2003. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
23. "The Bay of Bengal: New bay dawning" (https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21576721-h
arbours-eastern-lobe-indian-ocean-could-transform-economic-geography-asia-new). The
Economist. 27 April 2013.
24. Berlin, Donald L. (25 January 2005). "The emerging Bay of Bengal" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20050129213059/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA25Df05.html). Asia
Times Online. Archived from the original on 29 January 2005.
25. Arpi, Claude (26 December 2006). "1971 War: How the US tried to corner India" (http://www.
rediff.com/news/2006/dec/26claude.htm). Rediff.com.
26. "The Burma Project -Burma Debate" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090918024323/http://w
ww.burmadebate.org/archives/spring01strategic.html). Archived from the original (http://ww
w.burmadebate.org/archives/spring01strategic.html) on 18 September 2009. Retrieved
10 January 2015.
27. "India's Largest Naval War Game in Bay of Bengal" (https://web.archive.org/web/201210150
00845/http://www.globalpolitician.com/23382-india). Global Politician. Archived from the
original (http://www.globalpolitician.com/23382-india) on 15 October 2012.
28. Parameswaran, Prashanth (7 May 2015). "US Eyes Expanded Military Exercises with
ASEAN Navies" (https://thediplomat.com/2015/05/us-eyes-expanded-military-exercises-with
-asean-navies/). The Diplomat. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
29. Miglani, Sanjeev (22 July 2015). "India, Japan, U.S. plan naval exercises in tightening of ties
in Indian Ocean" (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-military-exercises-idUSKCN0PW
1EB20150722). Reuters. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20151204083652/http://ww
w.reuters.com/article/2015/07/22/us-india-military-exercises-idUSKCN0PW1EB20150722)
from the original on 4 December 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
30. Gady, Franz-Stefan (13 October 2015). "Confirmed: Japan Will Permanently Join US-India
Naval Exercises" (https://thediplomat.com/2015/10/confirmed-japan-will-permanently-join-us
-india-naval-exercises/). The Diplomat. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
31. "The Maritime Boundary Dispute Between Bangladesh and Myanmar: Motivations, Potential
Solutions, and Implications" (http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=449).
32. Sahu, Monideepa (6 March 2016). "The great fire" (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/53
2849/fire.html). Deccan Herald. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
33. Siddiqui, Neaz Ahmad (2012). "Sundarbans, The" (http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title
=Sundarbans,_The). In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National
Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
34. "World's longest beach hidden in Bangladesh" (http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/the-worl
ds-longest-beach/2007/01/31/1169919381993.html). The Sydney Morning Herald. 31
January 2007.
35. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bengal, Bay of". Encyclopædia Britannica
(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
36. The long stretch of sand glistening like silver dust (https://web.archive.org/web/2007093002
4520/http://www.and.nic.in/port-blair.htm) URL accessed 10 January 2015
37. Wasson, Robert (2003). "A sediment budget for the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna catchment" (htt
p://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/apr252003/1041.pdf) (PDF). Current Science. 84 (8): 1041–
1047.
38. Tsunami (http://www.idiom.com/~garcia/tsunami.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/
20070927031947/http://www.idiom.com/~garcia/tsunami.html) 27 September 2007 at the
Wayback Machine URL access 21 January 2007
39. Morphological features in the Bay of Bengal (http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/449/1/J_In
dian_Geophys_Union_4_185.pdf) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070614214602/
http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/449/1/J_Indian_Geophys_Union_4_185.pdf) 14 June
2007 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed 21 January 2007
40. Curray, Joseph R.; Frans J. Emmel; David G. Moore (December 2002). "The Bengal Fan:
morphology, geometry, stratigraphy, history and processes". Marine and Petroleum Geology.
Elsevier Science Ltd. 19 (10): 1191–1223. doi:10.1016/S0264-8172(03)00035-7 (https://doi.
org/10.1016%2FS0264-8172%2803%2900035-7).
41. France-Lanord, Christian; Volkhard Spiess; Peter Molnar; Joseph R. Curray (March 2000).
"Summary on the Bengal Fan: An introduction to a drilling proposal" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20111005095805/http://www.whoi.edu/pclift/BengalSummary.pdf) (PDF). Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution. Archived from the original (http://www.whoi.edu/pclift/BengalSum
mary.pdf) (PDF) on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
42. Shanmugam, G. (2016). "Submarine fans: A critical retrospective (1950–2015)" (https://doi.or
g/10.1016%2Fj.jop.2015.08.011). Journal of Palaeogeography. 5 (2): 110–184.
Bibcode:2016JPalG...5..110S (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016JPalG...5..110S).
doi:10.1016/j.jop.2015.08.011 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jop.2015.08.011).
43. Cochran, J.R.; Stow, D.A.V.; et al. (1989). Cochran, J.R; Stow, D.A.V (eds.). "116 Initial
Reports Table of Contents". Proc. ODP, Init. Repts. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling
Program. Ocean Drilling Program College Station, TX. 116.
doi:10.2973/odp.proc.ir.116.1989 (https://doi.org/10.2973%2Fodp.proc.ir.116.1989).
44. France-Lanord, Christian; Derry L.; Michard A. (1993). "Evolution of the Himalaya since
Miocene time: isotopic and sedimentological evidence from the Bengal Fan" (https://hal.arch
ives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02153142/file/Oxford%202.0%20complete%20rev.pdf) (PDF).
Geological Society Special Publication. 74 (1): 603–621. Bibcode:1993GSLSP..74..603F (ht
tps://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993GSLSP..74..603F).
doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.1993.074.01.40 (https://doi.org/10.1144%2FGSL.SP.1993.074.01.40).
S2CID 85506590 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:85506590).
45. Tilmann Schwenk; Volkhard Spiess (2009). "Architecture and Stratigraphy of the Bengal Fan
as Response to Tectonic and Climate Revealed from High-Resolution Seismic Data". SEPM
Special Publication, No. 92. External Controls on Deep-Water Depositional Systems. SEPM
(Society for Sedimentary Geology). pp. 107–131. ISBN 978-1-56576-136-0.
46. Curray, Joseph R.; David G. Moore (March 1971). "Growth of the Bengal Deep-Sea Fan and
Denudation in the Himalayas". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 82 (3): 563–572.
Bibcode:1971GSAB...82..563C (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1971GSAB...82..563C).
doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[563:GOTBDF]2.0.CO;2 (https://doi.org/10.1130%2F0016-7
606%281971%2982%5B563%3AGOTBDF%5D2.0.CO%3B2).
47. "Promise Rings in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, unique rings. by A Ring Thing" (http://
www.aringthing.com/promise_rings.htm).
48. Glossary of Physical Oceanography Ba-Bm (http://stommel.tamu.edu/~baum/paleo/ocean/no
de3.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20071018134105/http://stommel.tamu.edu/~
baum/paleo/ocean/node3.html) 18 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed 21
January 2007
49. Phillip Colla Natural History Photography (http://www.oceanlight.com/lightbox.php?lr=Bay_o
f_Bengal) URL accessed 21 January 2007
50. Haider, Mashida R. (5 January 2005). "Naturalist" (https://web.archive.org/web/2010113018
0306/http://www.newagebd.com/2005/jan/05/nature.html). New Age. Dhaka. Archived from
the original (http://www.newagebd.com/2005/jan/05/nature.html) on 30 November 2010.
51. CMS: Stenella attenuata, Pantropical spotted dolphin (http://www.cms.int/reports/small_ceta
ceans/data/S_attenuata/s_attenuata.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/200702030
23201/http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/S_attenuata/s_attenuata.htm) 3
February 2007 at the Wayback Machine URL accessed 21 January 2007
52. 17 Bay of Bengal (https://web.archive.org/web/20040830122811/http://www.emecs.or.jp/guid
ebook/eng/pdf/17bengal.pdf) URL accessed 21 January 2007
53. "Bodianus neilli (Bay of Bengal Hogfish)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080530132428/htt
p://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/B/Bodianus_neilli.asp). Zipcode Zoo. Archived from the original
(http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/B/Bodianus_neilli.asp) on 30 May 2008. Retrieved
21 January 2007.
54. "EO Natural Hazards: Smog over the Bay of Bengal" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071026
204458/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=13341).
NASA Earth Observatory. Archived from the original (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Natur
alHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=13341) on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
55. Ocean acidification in Bay of Bengal is now being monitored (https://www.firstpost.com/tech/
science/ocean-acidification-in-bay-of-bengal-is-now-being-monitored-by-global-satellite-net
work-7787131.html). Firstpost. 16 December 2019.
56. "Forces of Nature—Natural Disaster Fast Facts" (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/feature
s/04/forcesofnature/resources/). National Geographic. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
57. Tannehill, Ivan Ray (1969) [First published 1945]. Hurricanes: Their Nature and History:
Particularly Those of the West Indies and the Southern Coasts of the United States (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=schxAAAAMAAJ&q=bengal&pg=PA38) (6th ed.). Princeton
University Press. pp. 38–40. ISBN 9780837123165.

Further reading
The Maritime Boundary Dispute Between Bangladesh and Myanmar: Motivations, Potential
Solutions, and Implications (http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=449) by Jared
Bissinger (Asia Policy, July 2010) published by National Bureau of Asian Research

External links
The dictionary definition of Bay of Bengal at Wiktionary
Media related to Bay of Bengal at Wikimedia Commons
487 V. Suryanarayan, Prospects for a Bay of Bengal Community (http://www.india-seminar.c
om/2000/487/487%20suryanarayan.htm)
Arabian Sea: depth contours and undersea features – Map/Still – Britannica Concise (https://
www.britannica.com/place/Arabian-Sea)
Bay of Bengal in Encyclopedia (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Bengal-B.html)
Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project (http://www.boblme.org/)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bay_of_Bengal&oldid=1102951310"

This page was last edited on 7 August 2022, at 19:15 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0;

additional terms may apply. By
using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.