Puducherry is gearing up to host a significant international workshop focusing on strengthening the marine fisheries value chain in the Bay of Bengal region. The event, set to be inaugurated by Lt Governor K. Kailashnathan at Hotel Accord, comes at a crucial time for the marine fisheries sector facing challenges such as climate change and increasing cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. These challenges have directly impacted the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and coastal communities, emphasizing the need for sustainable interventions.
Experts believe that the workshop will concentrate on enhancing the marine fisheries value chain to ensure better income security for fishers, reduce post-harvest losses, promote value addition, and foster a more resilient and sustainable blue economy. Discussions will also delve into strategies for modernizing processing systems, improving cold-chain infrastructure, strengthening market linkages, and adopting climate-adaptive practices to secure the sector’s long-term future.
Puducherry has been selected as the workshop’s host venue due to its active marine fishing industry and well-established processing infrastructure. Its strategic location near major fishing hubs in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, supported by an efficient governance framework, positions the Union Territory as an ideal site for testing scalable policy and technology interventions that could be replicated across the Bay of Bengal region.
The workshop is anticipated to bring together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and international organizations to exchange ideas and best practices. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Fisheries Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, and senior officials from the Government of India are also expected to participate in the event. Representatives from global and regional bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), along with leading research institutions and seafood industry stakeholders, are scheduled to attend the two-day deliberations.
Organizers have indicated that the discussions aim to generate actionable recommendations to enhance sustainability, increase fisher incomes, and ensure long-term economic stability for coastal communities throughout the Bay of Bengal region.
