The emission of greenhouse gases from the marine capture fisheries sector is continuously increasing over time. To explore the role of technology in mitigating these emissions, and the management support required to make technological solutions effective, a brainstorming session was held on the topic of "Greening the Fisheries Sector: Innovations and Solutions from the Industry" on 17 February 2023 at the side-lines of WGFTFB23.
The event aimed to promote and identify issues related to green fishing in the Bay of Bengal Region. Various stakeholders were brought together to discuss developing energy-efficient fishing vessels and promoting green fishing operations. The objectives were to promote sustainable fishing practices in the Bay of Bengal Region, develop strategies for decarbonization of the fisheries sector, and share experiences on development and implementation issues with green fishing activities.
Dr. P. Krishnan, Director of BOBP-IGO, welcomed the delegates and delineated the objectives of the event. Commodore Debesh Lahiri of the National Maritime Foundation in New Delhi, and Dr. Srinivasa Kumar, Director of INCOIS in Hyderabad also spoken on the occasion highlighting the need for developing a conducive ecosystem to support fisheries. Special remarks were provided by Shri. Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Department of Fisheries, Government of India. He highlighted the international commitments made by India to reduce GHGs and invited technological solutions for the fisheries sector to contribute to the national objectives.
During technical session, industrial innovations and solutions for the fisheries sector were discussed. The session provided a platform for stakeholders to understand and explore innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the marine capture fisheries sector, and to promote sustainable fishing practices. The need for a holistic, cross-domain effort to make fishing in the Bay of Bengal region sustainable, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, affordable, and profitable in the end was emphasized.
