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ICAR-CMFRI organises awareness campaigns and beach cleaning drives on World Ocean Day

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) observed World Ocean Day 2023 on 8th June 2023 by conducting beach cleaning drives and an awareness workshop. 

Veraval Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI organized a beach cleaning drive at Somnath Beach, a major tourist destination in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, which attracts a large number of visitors every day.  All the staff of the Station actively participated in the initiative that primarily focused on collecting plastic waste from the beach and disposing of it properly. The VRS of ICAR-CMFRI also arranged a beach ride as a symbolic promotion of sustainable tourism along the coastal ecosystem. The initiative was supported by the Somnath Trust for facilitating the event and extending their help in the proper disposal of the collected waste. 

Visakhapatnam Regional Centre conducted an awareness workshop-cum-beach cleaning drive along with the fisher folks and school students of Peda Jalaripeta fishing village in association with the DHAN Foundation. The students, fisher folk, and the staff members of VRC of ICAR-CMFRI took a Swachhta pledge to protect the oceans and marine life. Then they took a rally up to RK Beach raising slogans followed by a beach cleaning drive. The participants were made aware of the importance of preserving clean beaches in order to safeguard the coastal ecosystem. 

On the occasion, Vizhinjam Regional Centre of the Institute organised an awareness programme and a drawing competition for school students in Vizhinjam area. Selected students participated in the drawing competition on the theme “The Beach I Saw”. As a part of the ocean awareness programme, all students were taken to Sagarika Marine Research Aquarium to raise awareness about ocean biodiversity and the importance of ocean conservation. The school teachers were presented with plants for planting on their school premises. In a separate programme, the Udaya Samudra group of Hotels organised a World Ocean Day Seminar titled ‘Ocean Love’ with the support from VRC of ICAR-CMFRI at Udaya-Samudra, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. 

Tuticorin Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI organised various programmes, including an awareness campaignon coastal and beach cleaning for sustainable ocean health. Activities such as human chain; coastal and beach cleaning in the fish landing centre the fish landing centre in Threspuram Fishing Village, Thoothukudi; distribution of awareness materials to the fishers on sustainable ocean health and impact of marine litter; and World Ocean Day slogan reading were conducted by the Station on the occasion. 

Karwar Regional Station also conducted a beach cleaning drive in association with the Ministry of Earth Science, the Forest Department, Govt. of Karnataka and the Marine Biology Department of Karnataka University. 

A cleanup activity was undertaken by the Mandapam Regional Centre at the Seashore of ICAR-CMFRI along the Gulf of Mannar coast. All the staff members participated and collected plastic waste to the tune of 100kg. 

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.

Hindi Workshop organised at Karwar Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI

As a part of the Official Language Implementation, a workshop was organized by Karwar Regional Station of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) on 03.07.2023 on the topic "Common Hindi words used in office premises”. Shri Santhosh Seti, Hindi Teacher, Hindu School, Karwar delivered the lecture. Six Scientists and 14 employees of the station actively participated in the workshop. The programme was chaired by Dr. Prathibha Rohit, Head-in-Charge and Chairman, OLIC of Karwar Regional Station

                Report on the Celebration of World Environment Day-2023

Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI celebrated World Environment Day-2023 on 5th June 2023 in the Quarters and office complex of VRC of CMFRI and Peda Jalaripeta fishing village, Visakhapatnam.In the morning hours, a tree plantation drive with staff members and their families in the quarters and office complex of VRC of CMFRI was initiated by Dr S. S. Raju, Principal Scientist and Head (i/c), VRC of CMFRI. Children and staff members actively participated and planted several saplings in the premises.In association with DHAN foundation, an Awareness Workshop cum Plantation drive along with the fisher folk of Peda Jalaripeta fishing village was also conducted between 2.30 to 5.00 pm.

 Dr. Loveson Edward L, Senior Scientist, sensitized the fishermen regarding the marine environment and climate change and how to harness the beneficial effects of climate change. Dr. Pralaya Ranjan Behera, Senior Scientist explained about the climate-smart approach needed to conserve the coastal biodiversity and to cope-up the ever-changing environmental conditions. An interactive discussion followed with fisher folks regarding their perception on climate change and the measures taken by them to overcome the hurdles they are facing due to it. The meeting ended with a few suggestions from fisher folks and ICAR-CMFRI initiatives towards environment-friendly mariculture activities to double the fisher’s income. Tree saplings were distributed to the fisher folks and a few saplings were planted along the fishing villages with the participation of fisher folks. Dr Pralaya and Dr. Leveson co-ordinated the events.