ICAR-CCARI organises the National Campaign on “Ecosystem management for sustainable fisheries” on National Fish Farmers’ Day

 

    National Fish Farmers’ Day is celebrated every year on 10 July to commemorate the scientists’ Dr KH Alikunhi and Dr HL Chaudhury who had invented induced breeding technology for the Indian Major Carps. In this prestigious year of Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav, a National Campaign was planned entitled ''Ecosystem Management for Sustainable Fisheries'' for celebrating the fish farmers’ day to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources, seed resources and brooders from the natural aquascapes. All the institutes concerned with fisheries research and development in India participated in this campaign. Estuaries of Goa such as Mandovi and Zuari support fisheries livelihood to thousands of fishermen, hundreds of fish farmers, fresh fish to the inhabitants and also form an integral part of Life in Goa.  

    In this context, ICAR-CCARI organised this campaign with the fishermen and farmers of Zuari estuary at Cacra fishing village to discuss various challenges for fisheries sustainability. A total of 40 participants from different fishing villages such as Cacra, Odxel, Nauxim, Bambolim, and Siridao participated in the event. Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI interacted with fishermen and assured full scientific support to conserve and manage the fisheries resources in the natural waters of Goa. He also urged the fishermen to use large meshed gillnets in order to reduce the juvenile catch and growth overfishing in the estuaries. Dr. Baban Shravan Ingole, Emeritus Scientist, ESSO-NCPOR and former head, Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-NIO described about the various anthropogenic pressures such as overexploitation, pollution, habitat degradation, and invasive species that could seriously impact the fisheries resources of estuaries and rivers. He also urged the fishermen support to revive the mussel, oyster and clam beds of the estuaries in a participatory mode so as to provide sustainable livelihood to the youth and women along the coastal region. Dr. Shivasharanappa N, Senior Scientist and Section In-charge, Animal Science and Fisheries emphasized the importance of the day and ensured all technical support to fishermen and farmers in conserving and managing the fishery for future generations. The fishermen also responded and wished scientific and technical support from ICAR for various welfare schemes in the field of fisheries. They also requested the assistance for preparing applications for the schemes from the developmental departments. Finally, they assured continuous support for the scientific research of ICAR and other organisations. A compilation of four research posters displaying the fisheries resources of Goa were also distributed among the fishermen and farmers. Dr. Sreekanth GB, Scientist (Fisheries resource management), and Mr. Trivesh S Mayekar, Scientist (Fish genetics and breeding) co-ordinated the national campaign.