Fisheries Outreach Programs

Fish Farmers Day and participation in Sagar Parikrama Programme and Sea Food Festivals

Fish Farmers Day:

ICAR-CIFE Commemorates National Fish Farmers Day on 10th July every year. It is a special day for Indian fisheries as 65 years ago, on this day in 1957, two ICAR scientists Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi achieved a breakthrough in induced breeding of carps. This pioneering work helped mass scale production of quality fish seed and sowed the seeds of blue revolution. India has made great strides since then, making India the second largest aquaculture producer in the world. To mark this milestone event, 10th July is commemorated as National Fish Farmers Day since 2001.

Saluting the countless fish farmers and fishers, who toil to provide nutritious and affordable fish for all, ICAR-CIFE Mumbai and its Regional Centres at Kolkata, Kakinada, Rohtak, Powarkheda and Motipur celebrate the day with enthusiasm and exuberance. On 10th July, 2022 National Fish Farmers Day was celebrated with participation of nearly 250 farmers, fishers, staff from DoF, KVK, ICAR experts, and industry representatives.

CIFE recognized and honoured the contribution of 21 innovative farmers, fishers and aquapreneurs including women and tribal farmers from across India. Be it the biofloc based tilapia aquaculture or innovative live fish marketing and value addition in Maharashtra and Jharkhand or the entrepreneurial shrimp farming in salt-affected areas of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh or successful fish seed production and rearing in the interiors of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, they are all stories of success and hope !

Participation of ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai in Sagar Parikrama Programme

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India launched the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program on the occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The 3rd phase of the Sagar Parikrama Programme was organised at Versova fishing village jetty, Mumbai on 21/2/23.

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai participated in the 3rd phase of the Sagar Parikrama Programme organised by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, Department of Fisheries, Maharashtra and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad at Versova fishing village jetty, Mumbai on 21/2/23.

Hon’ble Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying was the Chief Guest of the 'Sagar Parikrama' Phase III Programme.

Dr. Atul Patne, Secretary Fisheries, Maharashtra State, Joint Secretary, Shri. Sagar Mehra, Dr. C. Suvarna, Chief Executive, NFDB, Hruta Dixit, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra State, Shri. Yuvraj Chougale, Joint Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra State, Shri. Gajanan Kirtikar, Member of Parliament, Mumbai, North-West, Gopal Shetty, Member of Parliament, Mumbai North, Smt. Manisha Chaudhary, MLA, Dahisar, Dr. Bharti Lavekar, MLA, Versova, Dr. Ravishankar C.N. Director, ICAR-CIFE, Dr. N.P. Sahu, Joint Director, ICAR-CIFE, and many other dignitaries graced the occasion.

More than 2,000 stakeholders like fishermen, fisherwomen, fisheries cooperative representative members from different fishing villages in and around Mumbai participated in this programme.

During the event, fishers and fish farmers shared their issues and problems, certificates/benefits related to Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Kisan Credit Card and State Scheme were awarded to fishers and fishery entrepreneurs. A song on Sagar Parikrama in Marathi has launched.

A ‘Do It Yourself (DIY) Fish Silage Organic Manure' technology developed by ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai under the project ‘Swachhta Action Plan-Commercial Utilisation of Fish Waste from Urban Fish Markets was released by Hon’ble Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying and other dignitaries. It was announced that that this organic manure has been prepared from fish waste which are discarded in the fish markets.

Hon’ble Shri Parshottam Rupala, and the dignitaries congratulated the ICAR-CIFE team Dr Ravishankar, Director ICAR-CIFE, Dr. N.P. Sahu, Joint Director ICAR-CIFE and the developers of this DIY technology Shri. Anurag Singh, Dr. Arpita Sharma, Dr. Martin Xavier and Shri. Shubham Soni.

ICAR-CIFE team actively participated in the Phase 3 of the Sagar Parikrama programme which is the Indian Government's initiative to promote responsible fisheries and sustainable marine ecosystems and to disseminate information about various fisheries-related schemes and programmes being implemented by the government, to show solidarity with all fishermen and fish farmers, to promote responsible fishing, and to protect marine ecosystems.

Address by Hon’ble Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Chief Guest of the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ Programme on 21/2/23 at Versova Fishing Village Jetty, Mumbai.

‘Do It Yourself (DIY) Fish Silage Organic Manure' technology developed by ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai released by Hon’ble Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying and other dignitaries during the 3rd Phase of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ Programme on 21/2/23 at Versova Fishing Village Jetty, Mumbai

ICAR-CIFE Team in the 3rd Phase of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ Programme on 21/2/23 at Versova Fishing Village Jetty, Mumbai

Versova Koli Sea Food Festival

ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai actively participates in Versova Koli Sea Food Festival every year. This year this was celebrated from 20th to 22nd January, 2023. During this festival many dignitaries and visitors visited CIFE stall and appreciated the activities and efforts of ICAR-CIFE for promoting fisheries and aquaculture in Maharashtra.

Dignitaries and visitors who visited ICAR-CIFE stall were explained about the various activities undertaken by CIFE under the project Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) Management and Commercial Utilization of Fish Waste in Fish Market being undertaken by ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai. The activities of the project were displayed in a poster and photo format. Interactions were done with the visitors and they were explained that deep cleaning works were undertaken for various markets like Four Bungalows fish market (Ekvira Matsya Vikri Mahila Sena, Chaar Bangla Macchi Market), Juhu Moregaon (Juhu Fish Market), Versova Fish Market (Bhanumati Motiram Bhave Fish Mandai, Bazar Galli in participatory manner with the fish vendors of different fish markets, representatives of market/fisheries cooperative societies.

The visitors were also explained that Do It Yourself (DIY) product from fish waste like silage/foliar spray and fish manure as a circular bio-economy model are also being prepared. Leaflets on DIY silage preparation were distributed.

Director, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai provided this facility to Institute Agri Business Incubation (ABI) Center incubatees Mrs. Rajshree Nakhwa, Mrs. Rekha Phande and Mr. Nikesh Hajare to support their business development during ABI incubation.

Fisheries Advisory Services

ICAR-CIFE regularly participates in exhibitions, aqua farmer and entrepreneur's meets, fisheries awareness programmes and provides fisheries advisory services to reach a broader spectrum of people in order to create awareness as well as educate about various dimensions of fisheries sector like employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, health benefits of fish consumption, wonders of aquatic life, the need for community based resource conservation and sustainable use and sustainable fisheries development. More than 9000 people ranging from professionals, students, fishers, fish farmers have benefitted from the fishery advisory service and awareness programmes. In addition, fishers and farmers are provided technical guidance. Scientists visit fishers and farmers to understand the issues faced by them and provide solutions.

Visit Coordination

ICAR-CIFE also does visit coordination and visitors (an average of 1500 per year) mainly consisting of students, trainees, fishers, farmers and entrepreneurs have visited CIFE. During the visit coordination visitors visit various labs, interact with scientists and they are sensitised about various opportunities in fisheries sector.

FEES Division of ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai with help of all Divisions coordinated 20 visits this year in 2023 under the guidance of Dr. Ravishankar C.N. Director and Dr. N.P. Sahu, Joint Director, CIFE, Mumbai and support from all Heads of Divisions, CIFE staff and students.

Visits included various divisions, labs and facilities. Visitors from different organisations from all over India (Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kashmir, Odisha, Uttarakhand etc.) visited CIFE. Details are presented below.

Number of visits and visitors

1.	Total organisations visiting CIFE:	20
2.	Total visitors:	766
3.	Total male visitors:	413
4.	Total female visitors:	353

Details about visits coordinated Read more

Participation in Exhibitions

Participation in Exhibitions by ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai and its Centres:

Exhibition In charge at Headquarter:

Dr. Swadesh Prakash and Dr. Arpita Sharma, FEES Division