Kochi: 13 June 2024 

Strengthening efforts for the sustainable utilisation of India’s marine fisheries, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) to collaborate on various research initiatives, including improved fishing advisories. The MoU was signed by CMFRI Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan and INCOIS Director Dr T Srinivasa Kumar.

According to the pact, CMFRI and INCOIS will work together on joint projects to leverage their expertise in areas such as operational oceanography; fishery oceanography; fishing advisories; ecology and environmental impact assessment; remote sensing and GIS application; biodiversity; fisheries management; geosciences; and outreach and awareness. This will involve sharing resources and personnel for focused research efforts.

Highlighting the importance of the tie-up, CMFRI Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan said the collaboration will significantly enhance research capabilities in oceanography and marine fisheries management. “Combining the expertise and resources of both institutions will help gain deeper insights into the marine ecosystems and develop data-driven solutions for sustainable fisheries management. This is also expected to be a crucial step for securing the livelihoods of coastal communities and the health of the ecosystem for generations to come”, he said.

Improved Fishing Advisories

“This linkage will become beneficial to the fisherfolks as the collaboration between the two institutes will help refine existing technologies to provide more accurate and effective potential fishing zone advisories to fishermen”, said INCOIS Director Dr T Srinivasa Kumar. This will empower them to optimize their fishing operations and catches, he added.

The linkage also aims to undertake joint exploratory surveys to collect vital geotagged fishery and ecological data. This data will be crucial for understanding fish populations, distribution patterns, and the overall health of the marine ecosystem. The agreement facilitates the exchange of datasets between the two institutions for specific research programmes.

Societal Applications

The collaboration further focuses on developing societal applications using satellite remote sensing in fisheries oceanography and marine fisheries. These applications will provide the potential to benefit coastal communities and stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

Provision for Joint efforts towards capacity building initiatives through training programmes and workshops was also sugggested in the MoU aiming to equip researchers and stakeholders with the latest knowledge and tools for sustainable fisheries management.

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