CIFRI Awards
Vadodara
The Vadodara Research Station of the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute organized three Field-Day-cum Awareness Programmes on Conservation of Indigenous Fishes of the Mahi Estuary in Gujarat from 5 to 10 October 2026. The Programme was guided by Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, and performed by Dr. S. P. Kamble, Dr. Lohith Kumar, Dr. Dibakar Bhakta, J.K Solanki, Sitanshu Kumar and J.C. Solanki. The initiative aimed to sensitize fishing communities and stakeholders about the ecological importance of indigenous fish species, aquatic biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of estuarine fisheries.
The Mahi estuary supports diverse fish populations and the livelihoods of local fishing communities. The mixing of freshwater and marine environments creates suitable habitats for various indigenous finfish and shellfish. However, anthropogenic pressures, habitat alteration, pollution and unsustainable fishing practices can affect fish diversity, recruitment and the long-term productivity of the ecosystem.
• Protecting breeding and nursery habitats
• Avoiding destructive fishing practices
• Promoting responsible fishing methods
• Conserving threatened and ecologically important indigenous fishes
The field-day component facilitated direct interaction between fisheries scientists and local stakeholders, enabling the exchange of scientific knowledge and field-level experiences on fish diversity, fishing practices and changes in the estuarine environment.
