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Annual Stakeholder Meet at Veraval RS of ICAR-CMFRI

The Veraval Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI conducted a stakeholder meeting on “Marine fisheries of Gujarat: research achievements, issues, and management strategies” on 19.06.2023 from 10:00 AM onwards at the Conference Hall of Veraval RS of ICAR-CMFRI. The meeting involved various stakeholders like fishermen, fisherwomen, SHG’s, boat owners, processors, the Indian Coast Guard, entrepreneurs, scientists, professors, policymakers, officers from the DOF, MPEDA, EIA, the College of Fisheries, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders in the field of marine fisheries. The training program consisted of a presentation of the salient research outputs related to the marine fisheries of Gujarat with an emphasis on marine fish landings in 2022, in addition to interactive discussions on current issues of importance in the sector and putting forward strategies for the sustainability of the resources. The meeting was commenced by Dr. Swathi Lekshmi P. S., Scientist In-Charge, with a welcome address. The objective and agenda of the program was briefed by Dr. Rajan Kumar, Scientist.  Dr. Vinay Kumar Vase, Scientist has made a presentation about the marine fish landings in Gujarat in 2022 and also on the salient research achievements made by the center.Shri Piyush Fofandi, Chairman, Vearal-Patan Municipality, has highlighted the issues on juvenile fishing, over fleet capacity, plastic pollution, and shortage of raw material for the fish processing sector in Gujarat. He also appraised on the importance of surveillance, the overcapacity of the fishing fleet, the adoption of reliable technologies, and the sea ranching program in the region. Dr. Rajan Kumar briefed about the upcoming policy about prioritizing and securing the allocations of different fishery resources to local fishers only. He added that no such resources would be allocated to non-fishers without the NoC of concerned local fisher groups. Coast Guard officials explained the security concerns of other state fishers’ fishing across Gujarat. He also urged local fishers to inform the Coast Guard of such activities immediately and emphasized the introduction of AIS mechanism for tracing boats across the different fishing grounds and IMBL. Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha, SIC, ICAR-CIFT, explained about Union Government initiations to make VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) mandatory for all marine fishing vessels in nearby future. Shri. Tulsibhai Gohel, President of the Trawlers Association, Veraval, represented the issues related to illegal fishing operations by foreign and other state vessels across Gujarat waters during fishing ban season. He appealed for strong enforcement law against such activities by concerned agencies i.e., DoF and Indian Coast Guard. He also proposed a uniform fishing ban across the country rather than a particular state wise ban. Dr Vinay Kumar added that the institute proposed region-specific fishery management plans to GoI to overcome interstate fishery conflicts.

Shri Damodar Chamudiya, President, Mahavir Fishermen Cooperative Society, Mangrol explained the initiative taken by the society to combat plastic pollution in the fishing grounds and installation of artificial reef modules. He further urged SIC, ICAR-CMFRI, Veraval to identify and demarcate suitable sites for open sea cage farming across the Gujarat state coast. The SIC, Veraval RS of CMFRI, assured co-ordination by immediately re-examining all suitable cage farming sites across the Gujarat coast.  Shri. Vishal Gohel, Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat, assured that all possible steps would be taken in favor of sustainable fishery across the state in the future and urged all communities and stakeholders to be part of the same movement. The progressive woman Entrepreneur Smt. Hansaben introduced her self-venture in value-added food products of seafood and requested the SIC to provide hands-on training in the field of seaweed farming and sea cage culture. The SIC assured fisherwomen that they would be included in the seaweed farming gender mainstreaming training programs, which will soon be conducted in the center. Dr. Swathi Lekshmi P. S., Scientist In-Charge, Veraval RS of CMFRI, moderated the panel discussion and promised stakeholders to be included in future collaborations and ready to take up research investigations to resolve the issues in the marine fisheries sector. Smt. Shikha Rahangdale, Scientist, VRS of CMFRI, Dr. Abdul Azeez, Scientist, VRS of CMFRI, Dr. Sarika, Scientist, VRC of CIFT, Dr. Sreejith S, Scientist, VRC of CIFT, were also involved in the program with their technical inputs. The program was concluded by Dr. Vinay Kumar Vase, Scientist, with a vote of thanks followed by the National Anthem. 

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 6.8 million green tiger shrimp seeds (PL 35) were sea ranched at Mandapam, Koyilvadi (Palk Bay) on 7th September, 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 the 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. M. Sivakumar, Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fisherman Welfare, Mandapam, Fishermen Association Leaders in the presence of Dr. K. Vinod, Head, Dr. G. Tamilmani, Principal Investigator of the project, Scientists and staff of Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI. The fishermen thanked the Government of India and ICAR-CMFRI for such an initiative and expressed that this activity will be helpful in replenishing and enhancing the green tiger shrimp stock in the wild. A total of 75.34 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.

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 1.6 million green tiger shrimp seeds (PL 20) were sea ranched at Maraikayarpattianam (Gulf of Mannar) on 23rd June, 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 the staff of Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI in the presence of Dr. G. Tamilmani, Head-in-Charge & Principal Investigator of the project. A total of 58.24 million green tiger shrimp seeds were sea ranched in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar since the initiation of the Project (February, 2022). The sea ranching programme was coordinated by Dr. B. Johnson, Senior Scientist of the Centre.