Address by Mayor Cochin Corporation

 

On Monday, 21st November 2016 ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin celebrated the World Fisheries Day to create awareness about overfishing, habitat destruction and other serious threats affecting the sustainability of our vast aquatic resources and to remind us about the eco-sustainable management of  global fisheries. More than 85 college students from nearby graduate and post graduate colleges of Cochin along with scientists, staff of the institute and two international trainees from Bangladesh participated in the programme.

 

Mrs. Saumini Jain, the Mayor of Cochin Corporation graced the occasion as Chief Guest and inaugurated the programme in the presence of Ms. Malini Biju, Counsellor, Willingdon Island North Division and Dr. C. N. Ravishankar, Director, ICAR-CIFT. Inaugurating the programme, the Chief Guest  Mrs. Saumini Jain, the Mayor of Cochin Corporation expressed concern over some of the major issues like large scale juvenile fishing, over fishing, pollution in water bodies etc. and suggested that stakeholders in fishery sector may come together for sustainable exploitation of fish and fishery resources. Ms. Malini Biju, local Counsellor offered felicitations address.

 

Dr. C. N. Ravishankar, Director, ICAR-CIFT highlighted the accomplishments of CIFT in respect of advance technology development in fishing and fish harvesting and assured to join hand with the line departments and other agencies to address the emerging issues in this sector.   He said that CIFT is celebrating the World Fisheries Day simultaneously at Shillong, Meghalaya in collaboration with Deptt. of Fisheries, Meghalaya;  at IGKV, Chhatishgarh in collaboration with ATARI, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh along with its three research centres at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Veravel (Gujrat) and Mumbai (Maharastra). At the outset, Dr. Leela Edwin, HOD, Fishing Technology & Convener of the programme delivered a warm welcome address and Dr. Ashok Kumar offered vote of thanks.

 

On this occasion, ICAR-CIFT conducted a seminar on “Need for conservation of fishery resources” followed by an open Quiz Competition among the graduate and post graduate students from colleges in and around Cochin rightfully selected to spread the message of the day for conservation of fishery resources and fight against human rights violations leading to sustainable fisheries. Dr. M. P Ramesan, Principal Scientist of Fishing Technology Division delivered a lecture on ‘World Fisheries Day-Experience of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Responsible Fisheries’ and Dr. Manoj P Samuel, Head of Division & Principal Scientist of Engineering Division spoke on ‘Water Resource Management’.