ICAR-CCARI celebrated World Fisheries Day by organising campaign on Conservation and Management of Small Indigenous Fishes of Goa

    World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21 November annually to mark the importance of sustainability of fish stocks and fisheries livelihood. Small Indigenous Fishes (SIF) occupy an integral part and inseparable link in the life, livelihood, health and general well-being of rural population. To highlight the significance of the conservation of SIF, ICAR-CCARI organised a campaign on “Conservation and Management of Small Indigenous Fishes of Goa” at Mangueshi temple, Mardol, Goa. A total of 500 individuals of seven indigenous fish species were released into the temple pond, which is considered as a method of insitu conservation. To spread the awareness about fish conservation, tourists, students, and local villagers were also invited for the campaign. Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI highlighted the importance of World Fisheries Day to address the conservation of fish and fishermen livelihood and briefed about research activities of the institute that focus on increasing sustainable livelihood for fish farmers and fishermen. Shri Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, Scientist (Fish Genetics and Breeding) highlighted the importance of conservation of small indigenous fishes and their role in providing food and nutritional security to the rural population. He has also mentioned that the institute would like to spread the campaign in ponds of religious importance in Goa and other coastal states. Shri Sudin Ambe, Secretary, Mangueshi Devasthan congratulated the institute for this prestigious event and ensured their wholehearted co-operation for such initiatives in the future. Shri K.D. Sadhale from Nirmal Vishva, an environmental NGO stated the importance of fish in human life, water quality management and highlighted that such conservations efforts are also required in the open water systems such as rivers, creeks and canals. Shri H.R.C. Prabhu, Programme Co-ordinator Incharge, KVK, North Goa wished that this initiative would encourage the conservation efforts for fish in different parts of state and adjoining coastal region. Dr. Sreekanth G.B., Scientist (Fisheries Resource Management) expressed sincere gratitude towards all the fishermen, farmers, and other stakeholders engaged in the fisheries sector of the country and he highlighted the conservation of indigenous fish germplasm in temple ponds would be vital for developing live gene banks across the country. On this occasion, an extension folder entitled “Promoting indigenous ornamental fishes of Goa: Breeding and seed production of the melon barb, Haludaria pradhani for conservation and management” was released by the dignitaries. Posters displaying the freshwater fishes of Goa were also distributed to tourists, students, villagers, staff of Mangueshi Devasthan. Shri. Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, Dr. Sreekanth G.B., Dr. Solomon Rajkumar, and Shri. Rahul Kulkarni co-ordinated the World Fisheries Day campaign.