CIFRI Awards
ICAR-CIFRI celebrated World Fisheries Day-2021 with a major focus towards riverine fisheries conservation and sustainability on the bank of river Ganga at Farakka on 21st November. On this occasion, Shri. R. Azhagesan, General Manager, Farakka Barrage Project, West Bengal, Dr. Sandeep Behera, Biodiversity consultant NMCG, New Delhi, were the guests to grace the occasion. Dr. D.K. Meena, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI in his welcome address highlighted the decadal work being carried out by ICAR-CIFRI towards conservation of indigenous fish species in Inland open waters. Further, Dr. Meena briefed on the Hilsa fisheries improvement programme in the river Ganga that ICAR-CIFRI has initiated since last 2 years. During the period, a total of more than 15000 adult hilsa has been ranched in the upstream of the Farakka barrage towards re-establishing the hilsa fisheries in the middle stretches of the river Ganga. Shri R. Azhagesan in his address advised the fishermen not to use small size mesh net for fish catch and as well as Hilsa catching. The legal issues involved in destructive fishing like poisoning and electric fishing were also emphasized by Shri Azhagesan. Dr. Sandeep Behera expressed his concern on the decreasing fish population and pollution of the River Ganga. Dr. Behera expressed his concern about the decrease hilsa population in the upstream of Farakka Barrage and highlighted the objectives of the NMCG funded project on Fish species conservational initiatives in river Ganga. He told about Ganga rejuvenation and encourage the fishermen to keep the hilsa migrated, so they can catch a large number of fishes in future. Dr. Behera congratulated ICAR-CIFRI team for the continuous Hilsa ranching and tagging towards conservation and reestablishing the lost hilsa fisheries in river Ganga. To mark the day special, more than 1500 fishermen, and public representing from the upstream and downstream of the Farakka barrage were participated. The Day was unique, as the programme was performed with the day on the Ganga Masal celebration day at Farakka. One of the major objectives of the Ganga Masal is to conserve riverine fisheries and sustainable fisheries management. The entire programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. B.K.Das, Director, coordination under Drs. A.K.Sahoo and D.K.Meena and support from the research team members of NMCG and Farakka Barrage Project (FBP), West Bengal.
Updated on 29/11/2021
