CIFRI Awards
A concluding workshop of the NICRA project “Impact of Climate Change in Inland Fisheries and Development of Adaptive Strategies” was organized at ICAR-CIFRI, Kolkata on 25 September 2023. The workshop was commenced with a warm welcome extended to the Chief Guest, Dr. P. Dey, Director, ATARI, Kolkata, all other invited experts and fish farmers by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore & PI, NICRA project. Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI outlined the purpose of the workshop with a brief recap of the different phases of the NICRA project in ICAR-CIFRI for 12 years. The project's objectives, its significance, and the various activities and key achievements under the project were highlighted in his presentation. Climate change related issues encountered in inland open water fisheries was addressed. Vulnerability assessment in the form of species reproductive and stakeholders was carried out in Indian rivers, floodplain wetlands and coastal wetlands across the country. Adaptation mitigation strategies against the impact of climate change on inland open water fisheries were developed and demonstrated in different inland open water bodies successfully. Carbon sequestration potential and green house gas emission of floodplain wetlands were assessed.
Dr. P. Dey, Director, ATARI, Kolkata, Chief Guest and Prof. B.B. Jana, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, Guest of honour appreciated the commendable work carried out by ICAR-CIFRI on the impact of climate change on inland open water fisheries and its mitigation strategies. Dr. Dey said “We are now near of the 6th species extinction event because of drastic climate change, and therefore climate related studies in inland fisheries should be strengthen and studies of reproductive vulnerability and breeding phenology of fishes are of utmost importance for breeding point of view”. According to Dr. Jana, CIFRI should continue the climate related work concerning the inland fisheries with the incorporation of latest techniques like stable isotope analysis of environmental molecules.
The panel discussion was held where invited experts from University of Kalyani, University of Bardwan, West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Science and Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Kolkata praised the achievements of the projects and gave their suggestions for integrating the research output for formulating policy related to mitigation of the impact of climate change on inland open water fisheries. Experts are very delighted about the work of CIFRI on the carbon sequestration and climate vulnerability mapping. They emphasized further detailed work on the carbon sequestration potential of the wetlands of India incorporating the source-sink dynamics and suggested to create state-wise detailed vulnerability maps using the existing framework developed by CIFRI. Furthermore, the initiation taken by the ICAR-CIFRI in the upliftment of the livelihood of the coastal fishers is encouraged and suggested to continue involving more awareness in the fish farmers/fishers of the remote coastal areas about ‘climate resilient’ fish culture processes. The fish farmers from Sunderbans, Mushidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas district of West Bnegal shared their experience and satisfaction in working with the ICAR-CIFRI related to ‘climate resilient’ technology for wetland fisheries and how it was helpful in doubling their previous revenue during the panel discussion.
The meeting was concluded with closing remarks, reiterating the importance of the event, its impact, and the enduring relationships forged through it. Attendees were encouraged to continue their engagement and support for future endeavours.
