Digital Conference on “Brackishwater Aquaculture Scenario in India with a focus on shrimp farming during COVID-19: Challenges and Way Forward” organized

3^rd June, 2020, Chennai

The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai in association with the Society for Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries organized the first Digital Conference on “Brackishwater Aquaculture Scenario in India with a focus on shrimp farming during COVID-19: Challenges and Way Forward” today.

Dr. Jujjavarapu Balaji, I.A.S., Joint Secretary, Fisheries, Government of India highlighted the programmes envisaged by the Central Government for supporting and promoting the Indian Aquaculture Sector including shrimp farming. He stressed on the need for diversifying the species in the farming basket. Dr. Balaji also outlined about having native Indian white shrimp as species of choice for the future and its genetic improvement through selective breeding. He urged the ICAR-CIBA for playing a leading role in it. He also accentuated on the need for the framework on insurance plans in aquaculture and need-based regularization of the rights.

Highlighting the ICAR-CIBA’s significant role in the Brackishwater Aquaculture Sector, Dr. Pravin Puthra, ADG (Marine Fisheries), ICAR emphasized on the extent the ICAR can contribute to the sector as a R&D partner.

Dr. Arul Victor Suresh, President, Society of Aquaculture Professionals (SAP), urged the stakeholders to communicate frequently and work together, particularly, concerning the policies for ensuring the sustainable development of the brackishwater aquaculture.

Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA highlighted the various issues and challenges faced by the different stakeholders of the brackishwater aquaculture sector, particularly, by the shrimp farming sector during the COVID - 19 lockdown scenario. He articulated the survey conducted by ICAR-CIBA projected a scenario of 40% loss in farmed shrimp production and export worth Rs. 10,000 Crores due to the lockdown.

The Resource Scientists from ICAR-CIBA also shared the possible adaptive measures pertaining to seed production and supply, species diversification, feed on input supply, water quality, disease diagnosis and management, farm automation, institutional credit and insurance support and extension outreach through training and communication through mobile application and digital platforms, etc.

The senior officials of ICAR Institutes and State Fisheries Departments participated in the Webinar.

The virtual conference was aimed at dealing with the issues faced by the sector in the current scenario of COVID - 19 and measures to be undertaken for a way forward to tackle the negative impacts.

The Webinar registered a total participation by 1,800 participants.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)