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This paper follows the 2005 Dhaka workshop on "Peri-urban aquatic production and improvement of the livelihoods of the urban poor in south east Asia". It aims to raise awareness and create dialogue amongst policy-makers and development practitioners concerning the nature, extent and potential of urban and peri-urban aquaculture in Bangladesh and West Bengal, in support of the Bengal Platform established at the workshop. The Bengal Platform works for information exchange and mutual support in the field of peri-urban aquatic production in south east Asia.The paper argues that urban and peri-urban aquaculture is locally important for income, livelihoods and food security and can contribute to enhanced wastewater management and environmental protection. The authors call for more information on the nature and extent of urban and peri-urban aquaculture to specify the importance of such production at district, state and national levels, and consequently its value in competing for scarce development resources.The authors argue that the establishment of the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Committee, constitutes a potentially important element of a planning framework for urban and peri-urban aquaculture development, where the needs and expectations of primary stakeholders in the wetlands can be incorporated in planning and decision-making. The committee has representatives from municipal authorities, government departments, producer associations and community-based organisations (CBOs) representing groups of people living and working in the wetlands. However, by adopting the Peri-Urban Participatory Action Planning and Implementation (PU-PAPi) approach in future development planning it is anticipated that the needs of the vulnerable people not directly represented on the committee will be clarified and addressed.
