Globally, World Fisheries Day is observed to highlight the importance of fisheries and fish farming and to focus on issues such as overfishing, habitat destruction and other serious threats to the sustainability of marine and freshwater resources. CIBA celebrated the World Fisheries Day with the coastal fishers at Karathittu village in Vayalur Panchayat of Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. About 60 fishers’ including, tribals and rural youth participated in the programme. The participants were sensitized about the importance of sustainable fishing, impact of habitat destruction and conservation of bio-diversity and opportunities for livelihood and income through the technologies developed by CIBA.
Dr. D. Deboral Vimala, Principal Scientist, Social Science Division, CIBA in her speech highlighted the importance of World Fisheries Day and explained the activities being implemented by CIBA as part of Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) programme in linking the fishers and villagers with development departments and facilitating to access the technological solutions for doubling the income of farmers and fishers in the villages. Dr.S.Kannappan, Principal Scientist, Crustacean Culture Division, CIBA discussed the importance of brackishwater aquaculture as an economic activity where valuable food, employment and profit can be realized, particularly by the rural poor. Dr.P.Mahalakshmi, Principal Scientist, Social Science Division, CIBA shared her experience on implementing profitable technologies in mud crabs, seabass, and milkfish farming involving the fisherfolk in Srinivasapuram village along the Adyar Creek of Chennai district.
Fishers from Keezhar Kollai Village in Koovathur Panchayat shared their experience on nursery rearing of seabass under the technological support of CIBA and in their feedback they appreciated the efforts of CIBA, in promoting seed production of seabass as an alternative livelihood activity for the fishers in their village. They acknowledge the economic benefits through the adoption of ‘nursery rearing’ technology imparted to them by CIBA. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Dr C V Sairam, Scientist-in-Charge, Social Science Division.