A Workshop on Database on Fisheries Cooperatives was organised by FISHCOPFED, New Delhi and ICAR-CIFE Mumbai on 16 March, 2016 at ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai.

The programme was attended by 120 participants from various fisheries cooperatives from Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Thane and Raigad district. Fisheries cooperative members were from fishing villages Versova, Madh, Mahim, Khardanda, Malwan, Harnai, Karanja, Mazgaon, Kharekuran, Bandra and Bhati. Representatives from Ratnagiri Fisheries College, ICAR-CIFE Mumbai, Maharshtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (MMKS) and Maharashtra Rajya Machhimar Sahakari Sangh. Participants of the workshop represented Fishing community, Fisheries cooperatives, Scientists, Research scholars, Professors, Dept. of Fisheries, Central and State government making it a truly diverse groups.

Shri. B. K. Mishra, Managing Director, FISHCOPFED, New Delhi addressed the participants and stressed on the importance of database of fisheries cooperatives. He mentioned that data on fisheries cooperatives will be helpful in designing strategies which will be helpful for fisheries sector.

Dr. Gopal Krishna, Director and Vice Chancellor, CIFE, Mumbai in his address mentioned that there is need for ICAR-CIFE, FOSHCOPFED, Fisheries Cooperatives and Fishing community to work together and bring the sector ahead. Shri. S. N. Deshpande, Regional Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra and Shri. Ramdas Sandhe, Vice President, FISHCOPFED, New Delhi highlighted the problems of fishers and fisheries cooperatives of Maharashtra. A presentation was made on the present status of marine fisheries cooperative societies in Maharashtra.

This was followed by an interaction and discussion where Dr. S. N. Ojha, Principal Scientist, CIFE, Shri. Kiran Koli, Smt. Rajashri Bhanji, Shri. Prithviraj Chandi, Shri. S. G. Raje, Shri Ganesh Nakhwa, Smt. Ujjwala and others presented their views and discussed the problems faced by fishers. Dr. Arpita Sharma, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFE coordinated the programme. The workshop was successful in bringing out awareness about importance of database of fisheries cooperatives among the participants.