In a bid to address the looming threat of climate change on fisheries, India has proposed for substantial reduction of carbon footprint as a significant step towards climate resilient fisheries.
This was suggested at the first session of the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management under the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
”CO2 emission per kg of fish caught in India’s marine fisheries is 17.7% less than the global average according to a recent study,” that’s according to India’s statement presented at the meeting by Dr J Jayasankar, head of fishery resources assessment, economics and extension division of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
Carbon sequestration
India’s delegation to the COFI meeting was led by Dr J Balaji, former Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India.
One suggestion put forward in India’s statement to build climate resilience fisheries involved carbon sequestration.
“A big step towards climate resilient fisheries is harnessing the carbon sequestration potential of seaweeds to mitigate climate change impacts. Enhancing natural habitats for improving seaweed resources and expanding seaweed culture systems and enhancing mangrove ecosystems may help lay the path for better carbon sequestration,” India’s statement said.
The statement further said that India suggests that FAO may plan to schedule capacity building exercises in mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases in capture fisheries and aquaculture; spatial planning; cross-sectoral planning; adaptive fisheries management; strengthening resilience; safety at sea; rehabilitate ecosystems and stronger farming structures.
CMFRI also presented India’s statement on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Marine Fisheries Management at the meeting.
It pointed out that promoting more marine protected areas (MPAs) to match the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the initiatives like artificial reefs at suitable locations along the coastal stretch of the country add to India’s efforts to bring biodiversity to centre stage by keeping livelihoods of traditional fishermen unaffected.
