National Campaign on “Ecosystem based Management for sustainable fisheries” launched on National Fish Farmers’ Day - 2021 @Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav

10th July, 2021, Barrackpore

The Fisheries Science Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi in collaboration with its 8 Fisheries Institutes, viz., ICAR-CIFRI, ICAR-CMFRI, ICAR-NBFGR, ICAR-DCFR, ICAR-CIFE, ICAR-CIFA, ICAR-CIBA and ICAR-CIFT launched the National Campaign on “Ecosystem based Management for sustainable fisheries” on the occasion of the National Fish Farmers’ Day - 2021.

The ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata organized the Inaugural Webinar on “Inland Open Water Fisheries Management” today.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR stated about the National Fish Farmers Day that marks the invention of induced breeding technology which revolutionized the aquaculture production in the country. Dr. Jena emphasized that over the years, the researchers had added knowledge to the breeding technology and refinement carried out by farmers in the field. He stressed on the need for maintaining the quality apart from quantity of the produce.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. M.V. Gupta, World Food Laureate & Former ADG, World Fish accentuated that the induced breeding technique has enhanced the seed production through hatcheries.

Dr. Dilip Kumar, Former Director & Vice-Chancellor, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra emphasized that the induced breeding resulted in benefitting the crores of fishermen by enhancing their production and livelihood.

Dr. V.V. Sugunan, Former ADG (Inland Fisheries), ICAR emphasized that due to an increase in fish seed production, the country has substantially enhanced the inland fish production.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata briefed about the benefits of the National Campaign.

Around 40,000 and 5,000 Fingerlings were released to River Ganga during the River Ranching Programme at River Ganga at Daspara Ghat, Barrackpore, Kolkata and Sangam, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. About 500 Fishes were tagged and released to observe the fish behaviour and growth during the occasion.

The awareness programmes and activities were carried out at the ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati Centre. The ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute organized a Webinar on “Ecosystem based Fisheries Management for fisheries and aquaculture of NER” during the occasion.

A large number of awareness programmes were also organized in West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

The senior officials of ICAR Institutes also deliberated on the occasion.

More than 5,000 fishers, students, Entrepreneurs attended the programme.

The programme was organized as a part of the “Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav” to commemorate 75 Years of India’s Independence.

(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata)