Smt. J.  Mercy Kutty Amma delivering the inaugural address

ICAR Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin in association with the Kollam Trawler Owners’ Association organized a one day Workshop on “Myctophids - A new fisheries resource from deep sea” at Needakara, Kollam District of Kerala on 14^th January, 2017. The workshop was arranged by ICAR-CIFT as a part of the launching  programme of a new project on Myctophids going to be initiated by ICAR-CIFT. About 60 trawler owners and fishermen attended programme.

Inaugurating the programme as Chief Guest, Smt. J.  Mercy Kutty Amma, Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Cashew Industry, Govt. of Kerala stressed on the importance of responsible fishing and expressed the need for conservation of fisheries resource for the nutritional security and livelihood sustenance of fishers. Applauding the accomplishments of ICAR-CIFT in the harvesting and post harvesting sectors in fisheries, she urged the scientists to prioritize the research on utilization of Myctophids, a promising deep sea fish species as an alternative protein sources in the conventional fish food items and source for fish meal and congratulated ICAR-CIFT for the innovative extension approach in large scale dissemination of fisheries technology among fisher folk.

Expressing concern over the declining status of conventional fisheries resource Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director, ICAR-CIFT in his presidential address highlighted that fishing industry is now in search of new fishery resources to strengthen the industry. In this context, he said that out of plenteous population of mesopelagic fishes in the world oceans which is estimated to be around 1000 million tones, the Myctophids species are considered to be one of the promising fishery resources, which has the potential to become a major source of fish protein, when efficient harvesting and appropriate processing and value addition technologies are incorporated. Some Myctophid species are used for production of fish meal and oil and only a meagre percentage is used directly for human consumption at present.

Among the dignitaries on the dais Shri K. Sohair, Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala; Shri Peter Mathias, State President, All Kerala Boat Operators Association; Shri Charli Joseph, District President, Boat Operators Association, Kollam offered felicitations. Dr. Leela Edwin, Head, Fishing Technology Division, ICAR-CIFT welcomed the gathering and Dr. M.P. Remesan, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFT offered Vote of thanks. The programme was followed by a technical session, in which Dr. M.P. Remesan delivered a talk on “Responsible harvest and utilization of Myctophid resources”.

Smt. J.  Mercy Kutty Amma releasing the publication on Myctophids