Meet explains scientific methods to sustain marine resources in Mannar gulf

To highlight the importance of the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve region, an awareness programme was organized by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow at Marine Field Research Facility of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) at Puthumadam in Ramanathapuram district on Monday.

The programme was aimed at explaining the scientific methods adopted for conservation of marine biodiversity among the fisherfolk and also to create awareness among them to make best use of marine resources and maintenance of the genetic pool for future generations.

The Gulf of Mannar is one of the three coastal Biosphere Reserves, which has 47 villages with a total population of around 50,000 people largely of fishing community. The biosphere reserve region contains genetic elements evolved over millions of years that holds the key to future adaptations and survival.

In the inaugural address, M Krishnan, Vice Chancellor of MKU said that all scientific findings in higher education should reach common man for their benefit without which the findings would become void. Hence, the fisher folk should be aware of the need to maintain the genetic pool in a sustainable manner for their long-term livelihood, he said.

Presiding over the programme, Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR – NBFGR, highlighted the need for conservation of marine genetic resources and its socio-economic benefits to the coastal population. He expressed his interest to share the technological expertise of the institute with the local body authorities to maintain the genetic pool in the Gulf of Mannar region.

B Meenakumari, former Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and Deputy Director General of Fisheries, ICAR , chief guest, expressed the need to strictly implement the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, in order to the protect the interest of fishermen in access to benefit sharing of marine resources in the Gulf of Mannar region.

Earlier, she released an awareness manual on the marine biodiversity conservation and the first copy was received by the Vice Chancellor of MKU.

In his felicitation address, TK Ashok Kumar, Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, said over two lakh people were dependent on marine genetic resources in the GoM region for their livelihood and, hence, more research was required to focus on the yet-to-be identified new biological resources in the region. Around 100 fisher folks attended the programme.