The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy, Government of India, sponsored a national webinar on the topic of "Sustainability of Fish Meal Industry and the Livelihoods of Fishermen." This event, which is a part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration, aims to raise awareness of the value of fish meal in aquaculture and its importance in sustaining the lives of fishermen. Join us on this journey as we investigate the difficulties, possibilities, and alternatives in the fish meal sector, promoting sustainable practices for an improved future. 🐟🌱🌍
Overview
A crucial, protein-rich feed additive for fish and crustaceans in aquaculture is fish meal. It is a rich source of necessary nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that support healthy animal growth. To safeguard the welfare of fish farmers, protect marine habitats, and satisfy the rising demand for high-quality fish products, the industry's sustainability is of the utmost importance. In order to examine many facets of the fish meal industry and its effects on livelihoods and the environment, experts, representatives, and stakeholders from the fisheries community participated in this webinar. 🌊🥬👥
Key Points Importance of Fish Meal Industry:
The importance of the fish meal industry was stressed by Mr. Nissar F. Mohammed of the CLFMA. He emphasized the benefits of using fish waste in the manufacturing of fish meal, including how it can lower animal death rates, increase animal immunity, and lessen water pollution. 💡🐟🌱
Challenges in the Fish Meal Industry
The issues and difficulties facing the sector were discussed by Mr. Mohamed Dawood Sait, President of the Indian Marine Ingredients Association. The association is essential to advancing the fisheries industry's welfare and encouraging improvements. 🦐🏭
Fish Meal and Shrimp Feed Industry:
The business for fish meal and shrimp feed is expanding as a result of rising export needs, according to Shri A. Indra Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Avanti Feed Pvt. Ltd. He emphasized the significance of employing sustainable aquaculture methods to uphold consumer confidence. 🦐📈🐟
Alternatives to Fish Meal in Aqua Feed:
Alternatives to fish meal were offered by Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha, Senior Scientist at the Veraval ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology. These included insects, leaves, fruits, and seeds. These alternatives address issues with pollution, bycatch, and overfishing. 🍃🐜🌱
Efforts for Juvenile Fishery Mitigation:
An important initiative to address juvenile fisheries bycatch in Indian Marine Fisheries has been highlighted by Dr. A.P. Dineshbabu, the respected Principal Scientist of ICAR-CMFRI. He suggested several successful tactics, such as mesh size limitation, juvenile bycatch reduction devices (JBRD), and the introduction of minimum legal size (MLS) standards. These actions are essential for protecting young fish and promoting sustainable fishing methods in our marine environments. 🐟🦑🛑
Minimizing Fish Waste:
Shri Ramacharya, Director of Fisheries for the Government of Karnataka, pleaded for support for the sector and highlighted the fact that 12–18% of fish are lost or wasted. He pushed for public education and legislative action to reduce illegal fishing. 🙏🗑️🎣
Artificial Reefs for Fish Replenishment:
In order to replenish fish populations and deter the harvesting of young fish, Joint Secretary (MF) underlined the significance of raising awareness and building artificial reefs. 🐠🏝️
Interactive Session:
Fish farmers and industry leaders had a forum to ask questions and voice doubts throughout the webinar, which helped to spark beneficial discussions and clarifications. 💬👥🗣️
Conclusion 🌐🎣📊
The national webinar on "Sustainability of the Fish Meal Industry and the Livelihoods of Fishermen" was an overwhelming success, featuring thought-provoking debates and useful takeaways. In order to address issues and look into sustainable solutions for the fish meal sector, the event brought together experts, stakeholders, and members of the fisheries community. We pledge to create sectoral policies and action plans going forward that will protect the environment, promote the livelihoods of fishermen, and guarantee the health of the fisheries industry. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of the speakers and attendees for their insightful comments, as well as to Dr. S. K. Dwivedi for opening and closing this insightful webinar with a vote of thanks. Together, we can create a more promising and sustainable future for the communities and the fish meal business. 🙌🌱🐟
