In a significant step toward safeguarding the marine ecosystem in South and Southeast Asia, the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project Phase II (BOBLME II) officially kicked off with an inception workshop held from 12 – 14 December 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. With funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - International Waters and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), this five-year collaborative project aims to tackle urgent challenges and promote sustainability in the region.