Demographic change in marine fishing communities in India

This chapter is primarily focused on understanding the nature of demographic transformation taking place in the coastal fishing communities in India over the past four decades. Broad patterns of change with respect to key socio-demographic parameters such as the size and structure of population residing in the marine fishing villages, number of fisher households, average family size, poverty status, sex ratio and literacy rate are analysed based on four rounds of the marine fisheries census. Furthermore, other auxiliary details such as the availability of basic amenities in the fishing villages, trends in occupational profile of fishers, gender-wise variations therein, changes in the number of fishing crafts and other fishery related infrastructure are assessed in detail. The predominant pattern of labour mobility, which is a key driver of demographic changes as well as socio-economic transformation within the fishing communities, is discussed based on evidence from recent studies

Impact of Self-Help Groups in gender mainstreaming: A case study on clam processing units in Pookaitha village, Kottayam, Kerala

A study for assessing the impact of SHGs in gender mainstreaming was undertaken on the clam processing units operating at Pookaitha located at Kottayam District of Kerala. The analysis included specific aspects such as performance assessment of the SHGs, gender analysis, empowerment analysis and economic feasibility analysis which were carried out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using pre-tested and structured data gathering protocols with standardized scales and indices involving the members of the SHGs. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision making aspects, gender need analysis etc. Though majority of activities are female dominated, the male counterparts of the households also have definite role in decision making, purchase of accessories, sales, marketing etc. The indicative economics worked out for the economic feasibility analysis of the SHGs suggests that, the unit takes two years to break even. A success case study was elucidated and documented as a documentary which can be used as a case model for promoting group action for mobilizing SHGs on a sustainable basis

Eleven policy recommendations for harnessing the potential of marine fisheries in India

A high-level policy-oriented workshop was organized under the aegis of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), on 5th January 2024 at ICAR-CMFRI Headquarters, Kochi, India. The workshop was titled “Harnessing the Potential of Fisheries in the Marine States” and primarily intended to serve as a platform to garner ideas and opinions towards developing strategies and options to optimize the harvest and utilization of marine resources in India’s EEZ. The workshop was attended by Shri. Suman Bery, Hon. Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, and Prof. Ramesh Chand, Hon. Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog, and senior officials and delegates representing the NITI Aayog, Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA), office bearers of Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), scientists and staff of ICAR-CMFRI, Fishery Survey of India (FSI), ICAR-CIFT and other research and academic institutions, representatives of fishermen associations, civil society of organizations and other stakeholder institutions. The forum enabled experience-sharing between coastal states, facilitated discussion on key challenges, and aided deliberations on a variety of potential solutions. The presentations and discussions also focused on how technology and policy changes can make fishing more efficient, while also encouraging a shift towards mariculture and land-based fish farming. This brief note delves into the eleven key recommendations proposed as part of the workshop deliberations by Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI towards harnessing the potential of marine fisheries in India. Implementing these critical policy action points will require careful consideration at the highest levels of the government and a coordinated effort from all stakeholders within the marine fishing industry. These priority areas were chosen by carefully considering the challenges to growth within the sector, the need to ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems, opportunities to tap into new resources, and our national and global commitments. The prioritization was also guided by recent research findings in the field of marine fisheries and experiences of interacting with various stakeholders associated with fish harvesting, marketing, processing, trade, and other extended value chains

Economic empowerment of SHGs through Pearlspot Seed Production Technology

Pearlspot being recognized as the state fish of Kerala. The seed production technology of Pearl spot ensures an avenue for the livelihood enhancement of fisherfolk through farming. The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), plays a vital role in disseminating the seed as a part of the project entitled “Empowerment of Scheduled Caste Fisherfolk through Entrepreneurial Capacity Building of Self-Help Groups in Marine Sector” funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) programme setup a Pearl spot seed production unit in Vallarpadom, Ernakulam district, Kerala. Self Help Groups (SHGs) were mobilized with the assistance of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of ICAR-CMFRI and women participation as the essence of the gender mainstreaming was ensured

CMFRI Marine Fisheries Policy Series No.18; Streamlining the Supply Chain of Marine Fish in Kerala: COVID-19 and Beyond

Streamlining the Supply Chain of Marine Fish in Kerala: COVID-19 and Beyon

XVI Agricultural Science Congress 2023: Transformation of Agri-Food Systems for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

The XVI Agricultural Science Congress being jointly organized by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during 10-13 October 2023, at hotel Le Meridien, Kochi, is a mega event echoing the theme “Transformation of Agri-Food Systems for achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute takes great pride in hosting the XVI ASC, which will be the perfect point of convergence of academicians, researchers, students, farmers, fishers, traders, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders involved in agri-production systems that ensure food and nutritional security for a burgeoning population. With impeding challenges like growing urbanization, increasing unemployment, growing population, increasing food demands, degradation of natural resources through human interference, climate change impacts and natural calamities, the challenges ahead for India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations are many. The XVI ASC will provide an interface for dissemination of useful information across all sectors of stakeholders invested in developing India’s agri-food systems, not only to meet the SDGs, but also to ensure a stable structure on par with agri-food systems around the world. It is an honour to present this Book of Abstracts which is a compilation of a total of 668 abstracts that convey the results of R&D programs being done in India. The abstracts have been categorized under 10 major Themes – 1. Ensuring Food & Nutritional Security: Production, Consumption and Value addition; 2. Climate Action for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems; 3. Frontier Science and emerging Genetic Technologies: Genome, Breeding, Gene Editing; 4. Livestock-based Transformation of Food Systems; 5. Horticulture-based Transformation of Food Systems; 6. Aquaculture & Fisheries-based Transformation of Food Systems; 7. Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable AgriFood Systems; 8. Next Generation Technologies: Digital Agriculture, Precision Farming and AI-based Systems; 9. Policies and Institutions for Transforming Agri-Food Systems; 10. International Partnership for Research, Education and Development. This Book of Abstracts sets the stage for the mega event itself, which will see a flow of knowledge emanating from a zeal to transform and push India’s Agri-Food Systems to perform par excellence and achieve not only the SDGs of the UN but also to rise as a world leader in the sector. I thank and congratulate all the participants who have submitted abstracts for this mega event, and I also applaud the team that has strived hard to publish this Book of Abstracts ahead of the event. I wish all the delegates and participants a very vibrant and memorable time at the XVI ASC

Analytical validation of a modified turbidimetric assay to screen sulphur oxidizing bacteria

Conventional turbidimetric assay for sulphate determination was modified to 100 times lesser reaction volume on a convenient format using microtitre plate based platform, targeting routine microbiological applications to screen sulphur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) cultures. The modified assay was linear up to 1500 mg/L of sulphate concentration, which is about 37.5 times more than that of conventional assay. Upon regression analysis, linear equation y = 1.243× + 0.011 was obtained having R2 value of 0.998. The modified assay was fully validated in terms of precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), sensitivity, selectivity and robustness to assure the reliability during final applications. LOD and LOQ were found as 7.4 mg/L and 24.8 mg/L of sulphate concentration respectively. Further, accuracy of the assay over routine SOB screening media components was tested, and proved as reliable and suitable for the intended application

Outlining Metabolic Versatility of a Commercial Waste Composting Consortium in Fish Waste Management

Effective and sustainable management of fish waste produced in markets and processing industries, is a major challenge faced by the coastal communities. Composting is an environment friendly method for fish waste disposal, and for the production of organic fertilizers. However, quality of compost depends on the use of proficient microbial consortia to mediate the bioconversion processes. Accordingly, as a first step in developing a competent fish waste composting strategy, suitability of a commercial organic waste composting consortium was assessed. For this, various selective media were used for outlining the metabolic activities required for waste degradation such as production of hydrolytic enzymes viz., chitinase, lipase and protease (both in standard media and fish waste component embedded media), ammonia oxidization, organic and inorganic phosphate solubilisation, nitrite oxidization and sulphur oxidization. There were potential producers for all organic waste degrading enzymes with highest enzymatic index (EI) as 1.8, 2.9 and 1.5 for protease, lipase and chitinase respectively. Among these, 10 microbial consortia were able to degrade fish waste components with the highest EI as 1, 2.4 and 0.2 for protein, chitin and oil respectively; indicating that efficacy of fish oil degraders in the evaluated consortia was very less. Four isolates were found efficient for denitrification. Highest organic and inorganic phosphate solubilisation efficiency was 1.9 and 7 respectively. Despite the presence of some AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria), NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria) and SOB (sulphur oxidizing bacteria), their efficacy was less. Potential isolates were characterized as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus, Halotalea sp, Bacillus oryzaecorticis, Cronobacter condiment and Bacillus megaterium. As fish waste is rich in nitrogen and sulphur, inclusion of efficient AOB, NOB and SOB can improve the quality of final compost. Similarly, exclusion of denitrifiers can avoid the loss of nitrogen during composting. Consequently, while there were efficient organic matter degrading enzyme producers including fish protein and chitin, absence of efficient AOB, NOB, fish oil degraders and presence of denitrifiers recommends an improvisation of the evaluated consortium before application in fish waste composting

Not Available

Not AvailableEffective and sustainable management of fish waste produced in markets and processing industries, is a major challenge faced by the coastal communities. Composting is an environment friendly method for fish waste disposal, and for the production of organic fertilizers. However, quality of compost depends on the use of proficient microbial consortia to mediate the bioconversion processes. Accordingly, as a first step in developing a competent fish waste composting strategy, suitability of a commercial organic waste composting consortium was assessed. For this, various selective media were used for outlining the metabolic activities required for waste degradation such as production of hydrolytic enzymes viz., chitinase, lipase and protease (both in standard media and fish waste component embedded media), ammonia oxidization, organic and inorganic phosphate solubilisation, nitrite oxidization and sulphur oxidization. There were potential producers for all organic waste degrading enzymes with highest enzymatic index (EI) as 1.8, 2.9 and 1.5 for protease, lipase and chitinase respectively. Among these, 10 microbial consortia were able to degrade fish waste components with the highest EI as 1, 2.4 and 0.2 for protein, chitin and oil respectively; indicating that efficacy of fish oil degraders in the evaluated consortia was very less. Four isolates were found efficient for denitrification. Highest organic and inorganic phosphate solubilisation efficiency was 1.9 and 7 respectively. Despite the presence of some AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria), NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria) and SOB (sulphur oxidizing bacteria), their efficacy was less. Potential isolates were characterized as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus, Halotalea sp, Bacillus oryzaecorticis, Cronobacter condiment and Bacillus megaterium. As fish waste is rich in nitrogen and sulphur, inclusion of efficient AOB, NOB and SOB can improve the quality of final compost. Similarly, exclusion of denitrifiers can avoid the loss of nitrogen during composting. Consequently, while there were efficient organic matter degrading enzyme producers including fish protein and chitin, absence of efficient AOB, NOB, fish oil degraders and presence of denitrifiers recommends an improvisation of the evaluated consortium before application in fish waste composting.Not Availabl

Marine Capture Fisheries

Marine Capture Fisheries (Poster