Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area, Marine protected area in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh
The Swatch of No Ground is a marine protected area in the Bay of Bengal covering approximately 173,800 hectares. The zone features a dramatic underwater canyon that plunges to depths of about 1,340 meters below the surface.
British cartographers named this area because they could not measure its depth using traditional bamboo poles that local fishermen employed. The protected status was formally established in 2014 to safeguard the diverse marine ecosystems found here.
Local fishing communities have relied on waters around this protected area for generations, combining traditional practices with modern conservation principles. Visitors can observe how fishers work within these boundaries while respecting marine resources.
Access is limited to authorized research vessels and expeditions that must follow strict conservation rules. Visitors should contact local authorities or marine conservation organizations for information about possible scientific or guided observation opportunities.
The area shelters Bryde's whales, spinner dolphins, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and endangered sea turtles, making it a refuge for rare marine mammals and reptiles. This diverse wildlife thrives in the nutrient-rich waters of the canyon, where currents bring nourishing water up from the depths.
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