Latest news with #GrinsonGeorge
United News of India
3 days ago
- Science
- United News of India
2.5 million tonnes of fish production targeted from mariculture by 2047
Kochi, May 30 (UNI) The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) envisions increased productivity with a target of 2.5 million tonnes of fish production from mariculture by 2047 against the current estimate of a meagre 1.5 lakh tonnes. Aiming to popularise cage farming and seaweed cultivation technologies, Institute Director Dr Grinson George has said effective adoption of innovative technologies will help to achieve this target. The Institute would also focus on boosting start-up enterprises in the sector by offering guidance and technical support, he said. Scientists from the Institute will visit villages to demonstrate and explain advanced practices such as cage fish farming, marine ornamental fish farming, mussel farming, oyster farming, seaweed cultivation, innovative fish breeding technologies, and scientific coastal aquaculture, he added. The community will be given awareness of a range of technologies and the prospects of seaweed farming and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), he explained. He said the ongoing 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' campaign is a significant effort to ensure that scientific advancements translate into tangible benefits for the grassroots. The campaign is being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with state governments. Around 2000 teams comprising scientists and experts from 113 ICAR institutes and 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), along with field officers from state-level departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, as well as innovative farmers, will be part of this campaign, which is aimed at reaching around 1.5 crore farmers in the country. In Kerala, CMFRI's outreach teams, comprising 36 scientists, will visit all districts, collaborating closely with the respective KVKs. Similarly, all the Centres of the Institute located in various coastal states will take part in the campaign in respective regions. 'A landmark initiative in connecting scientists and farmers, this direct engagement will greatly help fishery scientists tailor their research work and development efforts to fulfil the community's demands more effectively," George said. Beyond technology awareness, the CMFRI teams will also collect crucial feedback, remarks, and responses from the farming and fishing communities to understand the specific issues and challenges faced by farmers. The scientists will listen to the issues of the stakeholders and foster a strong connection with them. UNI DS ARN
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
CMFRI study to assess environmental impact of shipwreck off Kochi coast
Kochi: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has launched a study to assess the changes in the marine environment following the shipwreck of the vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kochi. CMFRI, which is based on Kochi, is the country's premier institute for research in marine fisheries. The study is currently being conducted by four-member teams in the coastal areas of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. CMFRI officials said that their teams are collecting water, phytoplankton, and sediment samples from 10 stations in these districts at regular intervals for the investigation. They are examining water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen content, pH, and nutrients. The presence of oil and grease in the water and soil is also being studied to detect any potential oil spill. Benthic organisms in the coastal soil are also being collected and tested. Although an on-board survey was initiated, sampling from in and around the accident site was not possible due to adverse weather conditions. This will be undertaken once the conditions improve in the coming days. Ongoing adverse weather has also prevented the testing of fish samples, as fishing activities are currently not possible. Benthic organisms in the sea will also be collected using grabs for analysis. CMFRI director Grinson George said that the study aims to understand various types of marine pollution associated with the shipwreck. They will formulate guidelines for future management measures based on the output of the study, which will be provided to relevant agencies, he added. He mentioned that the monsoon period is a critical breeding time for pelagic fishes, and it could have lasting consequences depending on the amount of leakage that occurred from the cargo. CMFRI officials said that marine species are sensitive to oil smothering as the oil can block the breathing of fishes when it gets attached to the gills. "The bigger species will move away while several others can go deeper. But the surface-level species will be impacted."
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
CMFRI launches study to assess marine impact of MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck
KOCHI: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has launched a study to assess the impact of the shipwreck on the marine environment. The ship, MSC Elsa 3, which carried hazardous cargo, sank around 38 nautical miles off Kochi on May teams of scientists from the CMFRI have been deployed in the districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram as part of the study. The teams are collecting water, phytoplankton and sediment samples from 10 stations in each district at regular intervals for the investigation. Water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen content, pH, nutrients, etc., are being studied. The presence of oil and grease in the water and soil is also being monitored to detect any potential oil spill. Benthic organisms in the coastal soil are also being collected and tested. Although an on-board survey was initiated, sampling from in and around the accident site was not possible due to adverse weather conditions. This will be undertaken once the conditions improve in the coming days. Ongoing adverse weather has also prevented testing of fish samples, as fishing activities are currently not possible. Benthic organisms in the sea will also be collected using grabs for analysis. 'The study aims to understand various types of marine pollution associated with the shipwreck. Guidelines for future management measures will be decided based on the findings and will be provided to relevant agencies,' said director Grinson George.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
CMFRI puts pedal on 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' programme
Kochi: The scientists of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have embarked on a two-week-long outreach programme to directly engage with fish farmers and fishermen across the country as part of the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' programme of the Central government. 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' is a nationwide campaign by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with state governments. Around 2,000 teams, comprising scientists and experts from 113 ICAR institutes and 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) along with field officers from state- level departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, as well as innovative farmers, will be part of this campaign, which is aimed to reach around 1.5 crore farmers in the country. CMFRI will leverage this campaign to popularise its cutting-edge technologies with an aim to enhance India's mariculture production through wider adoption. CMFRI scientists will now visit villages, demonstrating and explaining advanced practices such as cage fish farming, marine ornamental fish farming, mussel farming, oyster farming, seaweed cultivation, innovative fish breeding technologies, and scientific coastal aquaculture. CMFRI Director Grinson George said the community will be given awareness on a range of technologies and the prospects of seaweed farming and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). "CMFRI envisions increased productivity with a target of 2.5 million tonnes of fish production from mariculture by 2047 against the current estimate of a meagre 1.5 lakh tonnes. To a great extent, effective adoption of innovative technologies will help to achieve this target. We would also focus on boosting start-up enterprises in the sector by offering guidance and technical support," said George. In Kerala, CMFRI's outreach teams, comprising 36 scientists, will visit all districts, collaborating closely with the respective KVKs. Similarly, all the Centres of the Institute located in various coastal states will take part in the campaign in their respective regions. "A landmark initiative in connecting scientists and farmers, this direct engagement will greatly help fishery scientists tailor their research work and development efforts to fulfil the community's demands more effectively," said George. Beyond technology awareness, the CMFRI teams will also collect crucial feedback, remarks, and responses from the farming and fishing communities to understand the specific issues and challenges faced by farmers. "The scientists will listen to the issues of the stakeholders and foster a strong connection with them. 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' is a significant effort to ensure that scientific advancements translate into tangible benefits for the grassroots, added George.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Cargo ship sinks near Kerala coast: What can be the impact of oil spills and how are they cleaned up?
The threat of a possible oil spill looms large in Kerala as a cargo ship, which was carrying diesel and hazardous substances, sank off the state's coast on Sunday. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3, a 28-year-old vessel, was sailing from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi when it capsized around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha. The ship went down with more than 600 containers, some of which washed ashore on Monday. So far, no oil spill has been reported. Indian agencies, including the Coast Guard, have initiated pre-emptive action to deal with the situation. Oil spills can severely damage the marine ecosystem as they can result in the death of fish and other organisms, and destroy mangroves and coral reefs. If an oil spill takes place near the coast, it can affect the livelihood of fishermen and disrupt the local economy. Such spills are dangerous because oil is lighter than water and it keeps floating on the surface of the sea, forming a thin layer called slick. This layer spreads rapidly over the surface as it is carried by wind and ocean currents. Moreover, most of the components of the spilled oil remain suspended in water which can lead to long-term harm. That is the reason why after an oil spill, a quick clean-up with human intervention is necessary. The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil, according to the Coast Guard. A simulation done by the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) showed that if all of this diesel and furnace oil leaked into the sea, there was a high probability that these chemicals would drift towards the coast of Kerala. The entire coastal stretch between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram districts could be affected, the simulation revealed. Grinson George, director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), told The Indian Express that the oil spill would lead to 'short-term impacts, mostly on small scale and artisanal fishermen who work closer to the coast'. He said that oil smothering — when a coat of oil covers marine organisms — could threaten marine species and impact pelagic fish breeding in the region. Authorities are also concerned about other hazardous substances that MSC ELSA 3 was carrying. The vessel had at least 12 containers of calcium carbide — a toxic chemical that can form explosive gases when it reacts with water. These gases are a health risk for humans and marine life. Each oil spill has unique aspects as it is influenced by the nature and chemical composition of the oil that gets leaked. Usually, before planning the clean-up, experts try to observe the colour of the oil slick (under sunlight seen as black, rainbow, brown or colourless) which can indicate the possible composition and extent of the spill. During the clean-up process, pillows made of oleophilic (oil-attracting) materials are first deployed at the site of an oil spill. These materials act like a sponge and absorb oil (not water) from the surface. This helps clean up large portions of undivided oil slicks. Then, sheets made of cotton, or a material which has properties similar to cotton, are deployed to absorb the leakage. Another method for removing the oil is to use specialised motors which can pump out water. However, these motors are deployed only when an oil spill has taken place over calm waters such as a lake. As oil does not mix or dissolve in water, an entire clean-up of this emulsified liquid is not an easy task. The process is very costly and labour-intensive, and can sometimes extend to months. Also, in water bodies such as rivers and the sea, the perpetual flow of the water can pose a challenge. Experts suggest that in the case of MSC ELSA 3, if an oil leak takes place, it would be crucial to not let the oil slicks reach near the shores. Deepak Apte, a leading marine biologist, told The Indian Express, 'Monsoon has made an onset and the currents are towards the shore. With the monsoon tides and surges, access to shore areas will be difficult for clean-ups if the oil slicks reach the coast.' An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
