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ICAR-CMFRI hosts NICRA review meeting headed by DDG (NRM), ICAR

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Kochi hosted the review meeting of the research works of various fisheries research institutes and state agricultural universities under the fisheries component of the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) of ICAR on 11th March 2023.The meeting was chaired by Dr S K Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resources Management) of the ICAR. He emphasised the need for finding scientific solutions to the impacts of climate change on food producing sectors, including fisheries. He pointed out that increase in temperature and heat waves are leading to disruption of groundwater behaviour posing threat to agriculture and allied sectors. He also said that assessing ecological losses is equally important while studying the impact of climate change on the food sector.Dr B Venkateswarlu, Chairman of the NICRA Expert Committee urged scientists to focus on technological innovations and contributions to policy interventions during the time of climate change. Innovative technologies would help fishermen to sustain their livelihood during cyclones, heavy rainfalls and other extreme weather conditions, he said.Dr K K Vass, member of the NICRA Expert Committee said that there is a need for segregating the positive impacts of cyclones which support regional increase in production. The loss occurring in coastal communities like in the case of infrastructure damage and the loss in fishing days owing to extreme weather events such as storm-surge should be treated separately. In addition, studies on disruption of marine ecosystem services should also be carried out, Dr Vaas added.Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI said the under the NICRA project the Institute has found India’s carbon emission from marine fisheries at the national level is lower than that of global figure. The sector emits 1.32 t of CO2 (carbon dioxide) to produce one tonne of fish, much lower than the global figures of more than 2t of carbon emission per tonne of fish. Viewing that the NICRA project assumes significance as it helps to provide innovative solutions to a range of issues emanating from climate change, he further stated that the support of the project helped quicken the pace of ICAR-CMFRI’s research activities in India’s marine fisheries.Principal Investigators of the NICRA project from ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi; ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai; ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore; ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal; ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow; Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University; and Bihar Animal Sciences University presented the status of their research works at the meeting.ICAR-CMFRI’s presentation pointed out that increased intensity of cyclones, sea level rise, and warming of the Indian Ocean have led to changes in marine ecosystems among many others, causing depletion of some fishes and the emergence of some other varieties. The Institute identified cyclone proneness, flood proneness, shoreline changes, heat wave and sea level rise as the major hazards that make coastal lives in peril. Works on a Coastal Climate Risk Atlas that marks areas of risks including hazards and vulnerabilities in all coastal districts in India, are in progress.Headed by DDG, ICAR, a team of experts including Dr B Venkateswarlu, Dr K K, Dr V K Singh, Director of Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), and Dr M Prabhakar, Principal Investigator of the NICRA, ICAR reviewed the research works. 

Sea ranching of the green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus under the Central Sector Scheme component of 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana' (PMMSY)

A total of 2.3 million green tiger shrimp seeds (PL 15-20) were sea ranched at Thangachimadam (Palk Bay) on 10th March, 2023 under the Project entitled "Sea ranching of Green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) Post Larvae (PL) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu" funded by Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India under the Central Sector Scheme component of the PMMSY. The shrimp seeds were released by Shri P. Sesu Raja, Shri. S. Emerit, leaders of Mechanized Boat Fishermen Association, Rameswaram, Panchayat representatives and Shri M. Sankar, Overseer, Department of Fisheries & Fishermen Welfare, Rameswaram in presence of  Dr. G. Tamilmani, Head-in-Charge & Principal Investigator of the project and the staff of the Mandapam Regional Centre.  The fishermen thanked the Government of India and ICAR-CMFRI for such an initiative and expressed that this activity will be helpful in replenishing the green tiger shrimp stock. A total of 52.34 million green tiger shrimp seeds were sea ranched in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar since the inception of the Project (February, 2022). The sea ranching programme was coordinated by Dr. B. Johnson, Senior Scientist of the Centre. 

International Women’s Day was celebrated at Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI 

International Women’s Day was celebrated at the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on 8th March, 2023.

Dr. G. Tamilmani, Senior Scientist & Head-in-Charge, inaugurated the celebrations and expressed the importance of the day. A debate was organized on the topic ‘In Day to Day Household Activities – Role of Men is Essential or Not?’. Sports and cultural events were conducted for the staff. All the women staff of the centre were felicitated and a book named “Namakkana Kudumbam” by Shri S. Tamilselvan was distributed to them. The event was coordinated by Dr. L. Remya, Scientist and Smt. Priya, K. M., Senior Technical Assistant (Hindi Translator).