The proposed project will introduce activities in marginal fishers including women member of fishers families in Coxs Bazar region. Oyster Culture could be a new horizon for the coastal landless poor and shrimp PL(post larvae) collectors. Adoption of Oyster culture could be an important alternative income generating options for them and it could restrain to discourage their destructive present occupation. The prospects for coastal Oyster culture in Bangladesh depends on the integrated management approach of farmers, researchers, supporting institutions, development agencies, private entrepreneurs and the end-users. Oyster business could be a very potential business in Bangladesh.

The aim of the pilot project is to carry out small-scale oyster (Crassostrea spp.) culture in coastal areas of Bangladesh and the objectives are:
The Oyster Culture project would be address the following objectives-
- Increase Production of nontraditional items
- Create Employment Opportunities for the vulnerable coastal communities
- Widen valued business entrepreneurship
- Increase export of sea food products
- Increase economic activities
- Raise foreign exchange reserve base
- Open new Market area
- Value addition

Major Interventions
a) Selection of feasible areas and interested fishers for oyster culture
b) Fishers group formation for oyster culture
c) Knowledge and skill development through training for selected fishers
d) Clutch preparation and setting for seed collection
e) Demonstration of oyster farming (grow-out management, harvesting, transportation and marketing)
f) Optimizing environment friendly oyster culture system
g) Institutional capacity building

Follow-up action:
The pilot project will comprise of a workshop, whereby all IORA Member States would be invited to Bangladesh to learn from the best practices. The Member States would then be able to explore the possibility of replicating such pilot projects in their respective countries.