Kochi: In a crucial move towards ensuring the sustainable growth of India’s marine fisheries, the NITI Aayog is bringing together the Central government and various coastal states under one roof to address critical challenges in the sector and develop a roadmap for a collective approach.
The government’s premier think-tank is set to organise a high-level national workshop on harnessing the potential of fisheries in marine states at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi on Friday (January 5), to discuss relevant issues in the sector and evolve strategies for optimal utilisation of the highly prospective marine resources.
“The workshop, organised in association with CMFRI and Kerala Fisheries Department, will be attended by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and Member Prof. Ramesh Chand, along with high-ranking officials from NITI Aayog, Union Ministry Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and the fisheries departments of nine coastal states and one union territory. Government representatives from West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar will attend,” CMFRI informed.
You may also like to read – Need to make agricultural research demand driven with private sector engagement: Dr. Rajeev Varshney, Murdoch University
“A diverse array of key stakeholders, including policymakers from the Central and state governments, leading industry experts and researchers will attend the meet that will serve as a platform for experience sharing between marine states, enabling open dialogue on the challenges faced and potential solutions,” the fisheries research institute further said.
The workshop, held from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, will also deliberate on critical aspects of certification and sustainability, market linkages, value addition and seafood export, and the challenges in the fishing and seafood industry.
This special workshop assumes greater significance as the sector demands concerted efforts and cooperation between various coastal states and the Central government to unlock the potential of India’s marine wealth. The goal is to develop tailored strategies and partnerships for addressing the challenges and exploring the prospects.
