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ICAR-CIFRI observed World Wetland Day 2025 for protecting wetlands

2^nd February, 2025
Wetlands play an important role in providing many ecosystem services including water purification, biodiversity conservation, fish production, and water supply, highlighting its role in ecological balance, supporting life and improve livelihood. Due to anthropogenic activities, climate change and other factors, the environmental condition of many wetlands of India are increasingly vulnerable. It is essential to put an effort to restore and conserve the ecosystem of this vital ecosystem with participation of the stakeholders at ground level like fishers associated with the wetland. ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Resources Institute conducted a field day programme with the theme of the year 2025 i.e. “Protecting wetlands for our common future” on the occasion of the World Wetland Day 2025 celebration on 2nd February 2025 at Kulia beel, Nadia, West Bengal to sensitize the fishing community of wetland. The programme was held in association with the Saguna Union Fishermen Cooperative Society, Kantaganj, Nadia. During the programme,

Dr. Ranjan K. Manna, Principal Scientist and Head, Reservoir and Wetland Division, ICAR-CIFRI, described different activities of ICAR-CIFRI under the leadership of the director, Dr. Basanta K. Das. He also highlighted the importance and role of all different trophic levels of wetlands for different ecosystem services and emphasized the needs of important factors like river connectivity, aquatic macrophytes, etc for the conservation of precious biodiversity of wetlands and urged the fishers to actively participate for the conservation and restoration of wetland to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish production. Mr. Pankaj Sarkar, FEO FFDA, Nadia, emphasized the role of collaborative effort between State Fisheries Department, Research Institute and fish farmers for protecting the wetland ecology and fisheries. He also explained various Govt. development schemes which can render support to the wetland fishers. Mr. Pandab Kumar Das, Chairman, and Mr. Raju Das, Secretary of the Saguna Union Fishermen Cooperative Society, Kantaganj, Nadia, discussed various issues and challenges especially anthropogenic pollution they face for managing wetland fisheries. Dr. Lianthuamluaia, Senior Scientist and Dr. Pritijyoti Majhi, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, also sensitized the farmers on sustainable fish production management strategies and the available technologies for development of wetland fisheries. The fishers actively participated in the Scientist-Farmers Interaction session during the programme. During the interaction session,

several issues related to the aquatic environment and fisheries management of wetland, along with potential mitigation measures, were discussed. Major problem identified were discharge of untreated sewage of Gayeshpur Municipality leading to hyper-eutrophication by algae causing disappearance of most of the Small Indigenous Fishes like Gudusia chapra, Nandus nandus, etc. The programme was attended by more than 100 fishers of the wetland belonging to Saguna Union Fisherman Cooperative Society, Kantaganj, Nadia. Vote of Thanks was delivered by Mr. Subrata Das, Technical Officer, ICAR-CIFRI.