ICAR-CCARI organised Fishermen-Scientist Interaction for promotion of Climate-Resilient Mariculture in Goa

    As part of the ongoing efforts to promote awareness on climate-resilient fish farming, marine conservation, and sustainable livelihood development among coastal fishing communities, a fisherman–scientist interaction was organized to build the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal villages against climate change through sustainable and resilient aquaculture practices. The interaction was held on 12^th June 2025 at the ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI), Goa, with the participation of 10 fishermen from Siridao, a coastal village in North Goa. The event aimed to create awareness about climate-resilient aquaculture technologies, promote fish biodiversity conservation, and understand the ground-level needs of the fishing community. The scientists briefed the fishermen on various climate-resilient aquaculture practices including open sea cage farming, seaweed cultivation, and mussel farming as viable livelihood options in the face of changing marine environments. The initiative also emphasizes the promotion of artificial reefs to enhance marine biodiversity and restore degraded coastal habitats. In recognition of their inspiring commitment to marine biodiversity, the fishermen of Siridao were felicitated for their commendable act of rescuing and releasing stranded dolphins under the guidance of ICAR CCARI Scientists. This gesture reflects the deep-rooted conservation ethos of the local fishing community. The fishermen expressed a positive response to the climate resilient fish farming initiative and showed keen interest in adopting these technologies in their village. They also requested support under the Scheduled Tribe Plan (STP) fund, particularly for the provision of improved fishing gear to enhance their livelihoods. This interaction reflects ICAR-CCARI Goa’s unwavering commitment to promoting climate-resilient fish farming practices, empowering coastal communities through science-based interventions, and contributing to the vision of a sustainable and climate-ready Blue Economy for Goa and beyond. The interaction was conducted by Shri Trivesh Mayekar and Dr Sreekanth G. B., Scientist of ICAR-CCARI and Harshvardhan Shetye (YP).