Round Table meet calls for international collaboration for sustainable growth of fisheries, aquaculture

An International Round Table Meet led by Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala at the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 at Ahmedabad has called for cooperation and collaboration between countries for a sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Partnering with other countries and organisations that have advanced technologies and expertise in fisheries and aquaculture to facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge would greatly help to enhance the Indian fisheries sector, the meet suggested.

Speaking at the session, Rupala said that the GPS system should be made user-friendly to the fishermen, utilising the global expertise and technologies. Cost-effective and reliable technologies are essential for marine navigation to be truly beneficial to fishermen venturing into the sea, the Minister said.

“Global exchange programmes in data collection and data sharing can play a major role to improve the fisheries sector," Rupala said. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, these programmes can facilitate the adoption of best practices, promote sustainable resource management, and develop effective mitigation strategies in response to climate change. This collective approach can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the livelihoods of traditional fishermen, who are particularly vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change, he said.

Global data exchange programmes can significantly enhance the quality and availability of fisheries data, providing a comprehensive understanding of fish stocks, migration patterns, and ecosystem dynamics, the Union Minister said.

In his address, DimitriousIoannou, Ambassador of Greece, underscored the critical need to harmonize fishing and aquaculture practices with environmental sustainability. He advocated for a multifaceted approach that encompasses both domestic and international strategies.

The high-level dialogue was attended by Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Dr L Murugan, Union Fisheries Secretary, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, and Ambassadors from Greece, Angola and diplomatic delegation from Australia, Brazil, France, Norway, Russia and Zimbabwe among others.

Foreign delegations expressed their keen interest in fostering collaboration with India in several key areas, including research, data collection, resource monitoring and technology backstopping, according to an official release.

The forum underscored the need for exchange of adequate technology expertise to tap the unexplored deep-sea resources in India. The country has vast unexplored deep-sea resources and equipping the fishermen and the vessels with adequate technologies and training could utilise these untapped resources, it observed.

The speakers at the Round Table Meet identified four major areas which require international collaboration. They are enhancing fisheries production targeting food and nutritional security, strengthening of aquaculture to combat human hunger, sustainable utilisation of the resources in the fisheries sector, and development of deep-sea fishing.

Discussions on expanding market access for Indian fishery products, collaborating with research institutions, universities and international organisations to conduct research on sustainable fishing practices, aquaculture technologies and resource management were also held during the session.