National Seminar on “Priorities in Fisheries and Aquaculture” inaugurated at College of Fisheries, OUAT, Rangeilunda, Odisha

Berhampur: National Seminar on “Priorities in Fisheries and Aquaculture” was inaugurated today in the auditorium of College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda, Odisha with the lighting of lamp by Chief Guest Bishnupad Sethi, IAS, Commissioner cum Secretary, Government of Odisha in presence of Guest of Honours. The inaugural session was presided over by Dr. J. K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science) ICAR, New Delhi.
Dr. (Mrs) S. Mishra, Director, College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda welcomed the dignitaries. Dr. Basanta Kumar Das, Director ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore and Convenor of the National seminar welcomed all participants and gave a brief account of the purpose and objectives of the seminar.
Dr. N. P. Srivastava, Secretary, Inland Fisheries Society of India, Kolkata welcomed all the dignitaries and participants on behalf of the society.
Dr. Jitendra Kumar Sundaray, Director, ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in his address stressed on generating new age entrepreneurship in fisheries and aquaculture in Odisha and other states through convergence of all ICAR institutes in the region.
Dr. N. Sarangi, former Director, ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar hoped that this seminar will come up with good recommendations for fisheries and aquaculture development in India. Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Island emphasised on the role played by fisheries in livelihood security.
Dr. S. D.Tripathi, Former Director & VC, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai and Dr. Dilip Kumar, former Director ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai and FAO Expert expressed their views and hope for grand success of this programme.
Shri Bishnupad Sethi, IAS, Commissioner cum Secretary, Fisheries and ARD Department, Government of Odisha and Chief Guest in his address briefed about the fisheries development of Odisha and acknowledged the technologies developed by ICAR institutes for fish production and expected future greater role of institutes in fisheries development and employment generation in the region. He said College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda is 35 years old, and produced a large number of Nationall acclaimed fisheries professional, who are contributing to the fisheries sector of this country. This college need to be brought into international level. Proper designed infrastructure facilities to be planned and support will be facilitated by Department of Fisheries, Government of Odisha.
Dr. Joy Krushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR, New Delhi in his presidential address emphasised on the responsibilities of the institutes in realising the blue revolution and achieving developmental targets pertaining to fisheries and aquaculture sector of the country. He also stressed upon the need for doubling of farmers’ income involved in aquaculture and fisheries. He further underlined the importance of sustainable development with conservation of aquatic resources.
On this occasion, Souvenir, Book of Abstracts, Technical bulletins namely Phytoplankton of river Mahanadi in Odisha, India- A pictorial guide; Fishes of River Mahanadi in Odisha, India: A field guide; Hindi magazine “Nilanjali”, and OFCAAR alumni profile book were released by the Chief Guest. OFCAAR website was hosted by Dr. J. K. Jena, DDG, ICAR.
Dr. J. K.Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), ICAR felicitated Chief Guest and Guest of Honours. Shri Vishnu Pad Sethi, IAS felicitated founder teachers of College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda.
Shri P. R Rout, President, Odisha Fisheries Services Association and Ms Urvashi Behera, Additional Director, Department of Fisheries also address the participants.
Dr. B. K. Behera, Organising Secretary proposed vote of thanks.
Total 500 delegates are participating in this seminar. Total 230 papers are being presented in four parallel technical sessions (Oral & Posters).
On 12 March, Shri Jayanta Sahastrabuddhe, National Organising Secretary, Vignan Bharti delivered 3rd P. C. Thomas lecture on dissemination of scientific knowledge in common man language.
Dr. Dilip Kumar, Former Director, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai and FAO expert delivered lead lecture on “Making fisheries and aquaculture more relevant to rural development”. Dr. S. D. Tripathi, Former Director, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai delivered lead lecture on “Human Resource Development in fisheries”
A large number nationally acclaimed fisheries scientists are also delivering lead lectures.
An exhibition showcasing various fisheries and aquaculture products and technologies of fisheries institutes, NFDB, state fisheries department, other organisations and Industries was also inaugurated by Chief Guest on this occasion.
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, West Bengal in collaboration with College of Fisheries, OUAT, Rangeilunda, Odisha; Inland fisheries society of India and Fisheries college alumni association (OFCAAR) have jointly organized the National Seminar on “Priorities in Fisheries and Aquaculture” at College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda, Berhampur, Odisha during 11-12, March 2017.