The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) extended a helping hand to Bangladesh by providing technical support to improve its marine fisheries sector. CMFRI imparted technical guidance in the area of marine fish stock assessment to the neighbouring country as part of the follow up of the recommendations of the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on cooperation in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. CMFRI, the largest marine fisheries research institute in India, extended its support to Bangladesh to develop necessary manpower and expertise in the area of marine fish stock assessment, a significant tool for conserving the fishery wealth. In association with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), CMFRI exclusively trained the selected fisheries officials of that country on methods of stock assessments of tropical fishes. A total of 12 middle-level officials from the Bangladesh Fisheries Department, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute in Mymensing and the Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries, University of Chittagong were trained at the CMFRI headquarters in Kochi. A Gopalakrishnan, Director, CMFRI said the training was aimed at helping them develop necessary manpower and expertise in marine fish stock assessment and encourage research in the area. The training would be helpful to develop the data collection system for generating necessary fishery and biological inputs towards the conservation and sustainable management of their marine fishery resources, he said. The participants felt that the training was much effective that the innovative ideas in the area of fish stock assessment would help them utilise for the sustainable harvest of fishery wealth in Bangladesh. They also viewed that the technical guidance rendered by the CMFRI was a valuable support to Bangladesh to conserve and manage Hilsa, a popular fish variety in Bangladesh.
2016, The Hindu