CMFRI launches campaign on climate change
Climate change impact on shing communities has prompted the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to launch an initiative to create awareness on the issue among sherfolk.
As part of the campaign under the National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture Project, scientists of the institute explained the science behind climate change, its eects on shery, and the adaptation strategies to reduce its impact on the livelihood of shers of two major shing villages in Ernakulam — Kuzhuppilly and Chellanam.
A communication from the CMFRI quoting the scientists said increasing sea surface temperature resulted in migration of many economically harvest-able sh stock to relatively cooler waters leading to a shift in sh distribution aecting sh catch. They also said the rising temperature was causing a decline in dissolved oxygen levels in inland water bodies.
“This can lead to increased shkill and make the aquatic species susceptible to diseases due to a weakened immune system,” said Grinson George, principal Investigator of the project. Ratheesh Kumar R., centre coordinator, and Reshma Gills, co-principal investigator, are also part of the team.
During the interactive session on Saturday, the sher community from both the villages agged issues facing by them, including lack of marketing facilities and poor catch. In order to address the issue of reducing the shelf life of locally harvested sh due to increasing temperature, the CMFRI distributed ice boxes to sherwomen in Chellanam.