ICAR-CCARI participated in Workshop on “Stock Assessment of Lesser Sardines”

 A one-day workshop on "Stock assessment of lesser sardines along the coast of Maharashtra & Goa" was held on 27th November 2024 at Hotel Vivanta Goa, Panaji. It was jointly organized by M/s Omega Fishmeal and Oil Private Limited, Ratnagiri, and T J Marine Products Pvt. Ltd., as part of the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) for Indian Oil Sardine and Indian Mackerel. The FIP aims to enhance fisheries management, governance, environmental responsibility, and traceability of fishery products. Mr. Amol Patil, Director of Omega Fishmeal, reviewed the project's progress since its launch in 2017 and highlighted the need to transition to Marin Trust's version 3 standards. Other topics covered included the interaction of ETP species in purse seine fisheries and bycatch concerns. Mr. Duncan Leadbitter, FIP Manager, explained the transition to version 3 and the updated Fishery Action Plan. The plan was approved by stakeholders, and a new MoU was signed. Shri E. Vallavan, IAS, Secretary of Fisheries, Government of Goa, delivered the presidential address.ICAR-CCARI actively participated in the workshop and given suggestions. ICAR-CCARI's participation in this workshop underscored its role in promoting sustainable fishing practices. The insights gained from this workshop are expected to significantly improve the competence of fisheries management and governance, together with environmental responsibility and apparent traceability of fishery products throughout the supply chain of Goa, ensuring a more sustainable future for the region's fisheries. Shri. Trivesh Mayekar, Scientist, attended this workshop, further representing ICAR-CCARI's commitment to this crucial initiative.Ms. Cheiko Sasaki from BioMar Group, Australia, shared insights on "Sustainability Certifications for Aquaculture Feeds." The workshop was attended by fisheries scientists and officers from Maharashtra, Goa, and various institutes, including ICAR-CCARI, CMFRI, CIFE, and MPEDA. Stakeholders from fishing societies in Ratnagiri and Goa, along with representatives from fish feed companies like Skretting, BioMar, Cargill, and others, participated in the event.