Fisheries and aquaculture are becoming increasingly important subsectors within the national food system in many developing countries. This broad trend has important implications for food and nutrition security, global trade, and overall livelihoods. Thus, it is no surprise that fisheries feature prominently in many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have a very direct relationship to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Results from the primary fish value chain suggest that the aquaculture sector has indeed experienced a dramatic transformation. There are clear indications of disintermediation (that is, fewer actors per unit of output in the value chain), which has reduced transaction costs; fish production has become increasingly clustered to take advantage of agglomeration effects; and the rate of adoption of modern fish varieties and improved farming practices has increased. Given increased investment, the projection analysis indicates that the country has prospects for further growth in fish production, with supply outpacing demand, which in turn is likely to benefit the poor. However, as the authors point out, more data collection and analysis need to be carried out to adequately account for factors such as sustainability and habitat degradation.

At a broader level, making a Blue Revolution in Bangladesh through aquaculture is consistent with the country’s comparative advantage—that is, numerous ponds and abundant laborers. Just as the availability of cheap labor fueled the garment export boom, the more efficient use of water and people has triggered the boom in the aquaculture sector. This book provides a systematic assessment of the Blue Revolution, highlighting opportunities and challenges, which will shed light on many issues of economic transformation in developing countries. I believe that the book’s analytical framework and survey results will be valuable for policymakers and future researchers.