CIFRI Awards
A two days awareness programme on ‘Hilsa and Dolphin conservation in the river Ganga’ was organised at ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore on 23rd to 24th February 2021 under ‘Namami Mission for Clean Gange’ program. About 250 fishermen representing more than 20 fishing Ghats along the lower stretches of the river Ganga from Howrah and North 24-Pragnas districts were participated in the program. The major objectives of the programme were i) to create awareness on the Hilsa fisheries, and Dolphin conservation for their population enhancement ii) to understand the fishermen on site river ecological associated problems iii) to develop a fishermen network specific to Hilsa and Dolphin through social and direct media like Gangaprahari. On this coccasion, Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore and PI of the project vividly explained the objectives of the programme and urged fishermen to be associated with the ongoing NMCG programme for the aquatic fish species and Dolphin conservation. Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore highlighted the importance of Scientists-Fishers interaction, the importance of Hilsa conservation and the strategies which helps to increase the production of Hilsa in the river Ganga. Dr. S. Samanta, Head of Riverine and Estuarine Fsiheries Division cited the example of Bangladesh and the strictly implementation of Hilsa conservation law and order, for which Bangladesh Hilsa production has shown an increasing trend and urged the fishers to abide strict rules to revive the Hilsa fishery in river Ganga. Dr. R.K.Manna, Principal Scientist presented an overview of the Ganga fisheres and highlighted the Dolphin conservation strategies to be followed in the river Ganga by the fishermen. Dr. A.K.Sahoo, Sr. Scientist, Nodal Scientist of the Hilsa project explained the different causes for the Hilsa declining in the river Ganga. Representatives from the fishermen communities expressed their views and current issues in river Ganga. Major issues recorded as i) Zero mess size net use ii) pollution and oil floating iii) plastic pollution and iv) vessel movements. Furthermore, fishermen asked for the alternative income source during the banned period of Hilsa for daily maintainace of their family. A WhatsApp group name “Ganga Hilsa conservation group” of 61 fishermen was formed and updated information on river Ganga, Hilsa and Dolphin are being sharing for the scientific knowledge among the fishermen.
