ICAR-CIBA Organizes National Workshop on Climate Risks and Adaptations in Fisheries

ICAR-CIBA conducted the National workshop on Climate Risks and Adaptations in Fisheries, at CIBA, Chennai during 3-4 May, 2024 as part of the project ‘Atlas of Climatic Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture (ACASA) duly supported by Borlaug Institute for South Asia, New Delhi (BISA) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The objectives of the workshop were to characterize the climatic risks in aquaculture, identifying the suitable adaptation solutions for each hazard, and assess their relative suitability and scalability.

During the inaugural session, Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director and Convener of the workshop in his welcome address highlighted the importance of climate change research in aquaculture and the adaptive mechanisms of fishes to a wide range of salinities. Dr. S. Bandyopadhyay, climate adaptation expert, BISA made a brief presentation on objectives and activities of ACASA project. Dr. C.A. Rama Rao, Principal Scientist, CRIDA and National Principal Investigator of ACASA project in his special address highlighted that climate change is a sectorial cross-cutting phenomenon, therefore, integration of all the sectors of under agriculture: crops, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries is important as the CC impacts need to be viewed holistically and addressed accordingly. 

Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries) was the Chief Guest of the inaugural session and presented the keynote address on the topic: Climate Change in Fisheries and Aquaculture: Impact, Adaptations and Mitigations. In his presentation he highlighted concerns on climate change and need for planning to cope up with the abrupt climatic events. He elaborated on climate change impacts on fisheries and explained how it is effecting changes in habitation, physiology, growth and maturation of fish species. The Inaugural session was closed with the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. J. Ashok Kumar, Principal Investigator, ACASA project at CIBA.  

Technical sessions on Risk characterization, identifying adaptation options, suitability and scalability of adaptation options were held during the workshop. Risk characterization session was chaired by Dr. E. Vivekanandan, Former Principal Scientist, CMFRI and Consultant for the Bay of Bengal Programme, IGO and co-chaired by Dr. M. Kumaran, Principal Scientist and Co-principal Investigator, CIBA-ACASA project. Dr. C. A. Rama Rao, Principal Scientist, CRIDA and National Principal Investigator of ACASA presented the framework for the risk assessment and Dr. J. Ashok Kumar, Principal Investigator, ACASA project at CIBA briefed the methodology to be adopted in risk characterization. There were 34 participants attended the workshop and grouped into four teams respectively for Brackishwater (Shrimp), Freshwater (Carp), Coldwater (Trout) and Mariculture (Pampano) and concurrent sessions were held separately to collect the information on indicators of Hazards, exposure and vulnerability.

The second technical session was chaired by Dr. S. Bandyopadhyay, Climate Expert, BISA and co-chaired by Dr. M. Muralidhar, Principal Scientist and Co-Principal Investigator, CIBA-ACASA. In this session, Dr. M. Muralidhar made a presentation on key adaptation solutions in the fisheries sector. The third technical session on Suitability and scalability of adaptation options was chaired by Dr. A.P. Dineshbabu, Principal Scientist, CMFRI and co-chaired by Dr. R. Saraswathy, Principal Scientist, CIBA. In this session, Dr. Kaushik Bora from BISA also explained the steps to be followed in deciding the suitability and scalability of adaptations with respect to the systems and stakeholders keeping in mind the adaptation barriers. Dr. J. Ashok Kumar, Principal Investigator, ACASA project at CIBA briefed the methodology to be adopted in filling the proformas.

In the concluding session, Dr. Kaushik Bora and Dr. Ramarao expressed their satisfaction with the proceedings of the workshop. Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA in his final remarks emphasized on system and species-wise adaptations for various sectors. Development of resilient varieties/species and technology hold the key in adapting to climate change he felt. Dr. J.K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries) reiterated that portfolio-based adaptations need to be validated and adaptations need to be linked with Govt. schemes like the proposed Climate resilient coastal village scheme.

The ACASA workshop provided a platform for all the sectors to participate and contribute their views on the subject he added. The workshop was concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. M. Kumaran, Principal Scientist & CO-PI of the project.