Ethnic Seafood Recipe Competition, ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa

                  World Fisheries Day is celebrated across the world on 21 November. The main purpose behind the celebration of this prestigious day is to highlight the importance of sustainability of fish stocks and fisheries livelihood. It also focuses on other related factors such as the necessity of healthy aquatic ecosystems, and their homeostasis. Moreover, World Fisheries Day marks a significant day for the fisher-folk communities. To mark the significance of the day, an “Ethnic Seafood Recipe Competition” was organised at ICAR-CCARI to explore and display the ethnic food recipes prepared from finfish, shrimp, clam, oyster, and squid. A total of 36 participants displayed the traditional fish recipes from various coastal states such as Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. The recipes were evaluated by expert food critics (Mrs. Mini Rebeiro, Shri Miguel Braganza and Shri Subendra Mehta) and judged them based on sensory attributes. The best displayed recipes were awarded and all recipes were given acknowledgements with a certificate of participation. At the outset, Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI highlighted the importance of World Fisheries Day and mentioned that the institute is in process of developing the technologies for ready to eat type ethnic fish products in times to come. Dr. Solomon Rajkumar, Senior Scientist and Section in Charge (Animal and Fisheries Science) welcomed the participants and delegates and briefed about the importance of World Fisheries Day Celebrations. He informed that this year the day is dedicated to highlight the critical importance of healthy aquatic environment and to ensure sustainable fish supply across the globe. Mr. Subendra Mehta, Expert food critic emphasized the need to conduct such events on a larger scale to promote the traditional food compositions globally. Dr. Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, Scientist (Fish Genetics and Breeding) expressed sincere gratitude towards the fishermen of coastal states for their tiresome efforts to bring the fish catch ashore in spite of the natural and anthropogenic stressors within the aquatic realm. He also pointed that such programmes will be organised in future at fishermen villages along the coastal region with support from the co-operative societies. Dr. Solomon Rajkumar, Dr. Trivesh Suresh Mayekar and Dr. Sreekanth G.B., Scientist (Fisheries Resource Management) co-ordinated the World Fisheries Day Celebrations.