ICAR-CCARI and Ganpat Parsekar College of Education organised a field day at Arambol fish landing site, Goa

    ICAR-CCARI, Goa organised a field day involving a rapid fish count and fishermen awareness programme on 10 February, 2024 at Arambol fish landing site, Goa in association with Ganpat Parsekar College of Education (GPCE), Harmal and Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB). An orientation was given to staff of GPCE and fishermen in advance. A total of 20 participants including staff of the college, researchers, sagar mitra, and fishermen took part in the programme. The gillnets of different mesh sizes were operated for one hour in the Bay and the catch was taken ashore towards the beach. The main objective of the fish count programme is to identify various species of fish using a rapid assessment. The rapid assessments are nowadays identified as a better tool to estimate the diversity and ecological significance of the aquatic ecosystems, which will also help to meet the state-level, national-level and global-level biodiversity campaigns and preparation of action plans. After a thorough taxonomic investigation by Dr Sreekanth GB, and Mr Trivesh Mayekar, Scientists from ICAR-CCARI, a total of 39 species were counted in the catch. Ms. Kavita Nair, Asst. Professor (Zoology), GPCE urged the fishermen and sagar mitra to involve in documenting the biodiversity of Goa coast and assured all support to GSBB and scientists/researchers. Dr. Sreekanth GB, Senior Scientist (FRM), ICAR-CCARI highlighted the importance of fish biodiversity research in the coastal ecosystems. He has also emphasized the need of similar studies in all the ecosystems and the institute will take a lead with the support from fishermen, BMCs, academic/research institutions, Directorate of Fisheries, Govt. of Goa and GSBB. Ms. Karishma Naik, Ms. Roshmi Shetkar, Dr. Kunja Pirolkar (Asst. Professors at GPCE), Mr. Suraj Kinlekar and Ms. Rakshanda Sagar (Sagar mitra) were present during the programme.