Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 8: The capacity building programme series jointly organized by Zoological Survey of India, Sri Vijaya Puram and Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration on “Sustainable fishing Practices: Balancing conservation and Livelihoods in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands” for various stakeholders in fisheries sector of A&N Islands inaugurated yesterday at Fisheries Training Centre, Marine Hill. The awareness programme series on various aspects of sustainable fisheries development has been scheduled from Jan. 7 to 24, in Fish Landing Centres of A&N Islands wherein resource persons from Department of Fisheries, Fishery Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India will lead the sessions focusing the fishermen community, general public and college students.
Ms. Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra, Director (Fisheries) attended the event as chief guest. In her address, she elaborated the importance of policy frameworks like community quotas, marine protected areas, eco-labeling, and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) for management of fisheries resources, encouraged the attended to participate towards fisheries conservation and community-driven solutions to combat overfishing and habitat degradation. Dr. K. Gopal, Joint Director, Department of Fisheries also spoke on the occasion.
Dr. Mrinal Kumar Das, Scientist D, ZSI, presented the ‘Status of Fisheries’, covering Schedule Species under Wildlife Protection Laws and an overview of A&N’s rich fish diversity, including endemic and threatened marine taxa vital for biodiversity and fisheries.
Dr. C. Babu, Fisheries Scientist, FSI, elaborated on suitable fisheries practices under Wildlife Protection Act (WPA). Shri Nesnas. EA, AFDO, elaborated sustainable fisheries practices in the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) under 2025 guidelines, stressing regulated trawling depths, vessel monitoring, bycatch reduction, regulation of mesh size and shifting from coastal fishery utilization to EEZ fishing.
The EIACP-ZSI team briefed about the programme. The training will be organized across 7 locations in Middle and South Andaman to maximize outreach. Students from Marine Biology division, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad and fishermen representatives also attended the programme.