Research Project
Year | Work |
2000-2006 | Estimation of Winter Migratory Bagnet Fishery (WMBF) in lower estuary |
1999-2004 | ASSESSMENT OF FISH CATCH AND CATCH STRUCTURE FROM DIFFERENT INLAND OPEN WATER SYSTEMS IN INDIA |
2002-2004 | AP Cess Fund Scheme on “Algal diversity of Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system with special reference to |
2002 | National Fellow Scheme on “Impact of mangrove ecosystem of the Sunderban, West Bengal, in estuarine |
2002-2004 | Impact study of introduc tion of summer moong cultivation in rice-fallow cropping system in Sundarbans, West Bengal under KVK |
2005-2007 | STUDIES ON THE ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND MANGROVE OF EAST COAST IN RELATION TO THEIR PRODUCTION POTENTIAL |
2007-2008 | Assessing the feasibility of increasing water productivity in Canal command areas through Fishery intervention |
2008-2009 | Migrtory pattern, behaviour and other relevant data for designing fish passes for Hilsa and other species for their migration |
2009-2012 | Impact adaptation and vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to climate-change – Impact assessment of climate change on Inland fisheries |
2010-2012 | Hydro-ecological conditions and their impact of fish distribution, population structure and sustenance under present flow regime in Hooghly estuarine system |
2010-2012 | Ecological impact of mangroves on the fisheries with special emphasis on recruitment |
2010-2012 | Gender impact assessment in inland open water fisheries |
2010-2012
2017-2020 | Economic valuation of inland fisheries resources in India
Canal Fisheries Development |
Women of Sunderbans sensitized on Canal Fisheries development |
ICAR-CIFRI conducted a mass awareness camps at Kochukahali, Gosaba block of Sunderban, West Bengal on 6 th January 2019 in collaboration with a local NGO “Sunderban Dream” under TSP. Kochukhali is the smallest Island and one of the inaccessible area in Sunderbans. More than 250 tribal women participated in the mass awareness programme. Sunderban area harbours around 130 fish species and gradually the species diversity is decreasing due to lack of awareness and heavy exploitation of natural resources. Canals are constructed for irrigation and cultivation purposes in each area. These canals should serve for livelihoods improvement and biodiversity conservation. Triabls fishers in this area are mostly depending on these aquatic resources for their livelihood. Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR- CIFRI encouraged the women to form collective groups and to start fisheries intervention in the unutilized canals of Sunderban for production enhancement. He also stress on the conservation of fish diversity and importance of Small indigenous fish on human nutrition. Farmers – scientists interaction was held in which, the queries of fishers regarding fisheries development were clarified by the scientists of ICAR-CIFRI. Village transact, Social map, resource map were prepared and training needs were assessed and accordingly, planned to work with other ICAR institutes around Kolkata for holistic livelihood development in the area. Dr. U. K. Sarkar, HoD, RWF Division, ICAR-CIFRI addressed the tribal fishers and emphasized on market opportunities and efficient supply chain management for fetching better return. At the end of the programme a swachhata drive was organized with active participation of the tribal fishers and the local populace as well. The women participants were sensitized about the importance of the cleanliness and hygiene in daily life. Dr. P.K. Parida and Ms. Sukanya Som facilitated the programme.
Project Title : Sustainable Inland Fisheries Development Pathways to Ensure Sustainable Development Goals
Duration : April 2020 to March 2023
Scientific Personnel :
Project Personnel: B. K. Das (P.I.), P. K. Parida (up toNov,22), A. Roy, P. Debroy, Lianthuamluaia, M. H. Ramteke, Satish Koushlesh, T. N. Chanu, M. A. Hassan, A. Pandit, H. S. Swain, R. Baitha, S. P. Kamble, A. K. Das, G. Chandra, P. R. Behera (w.e.f. 01.12.2021), S. Kumari (w.e.f. 01.04.22)
The inland fisheries sector is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals around the world. This stems from the fact that this sector provides food and nutritional security to billions of people and caters to livelihood functions of millions of people in the world. The Project emphasizes on harnessing the relationships between inland fisheries, interventions of ICAR-CIFRI to address the SDGs through flagship programmes, sustainable fisheries resource management and the targets of SDGs. With this aim in view, we have worked on SDG 1 (No Poverty: Reduce Poverty by Involving PFCS, SHGs, NGOs etc.); SDG 2 (Zero Hunger: Ensure Household Nutritional Security through SIFs); SDG 5 (Gender Equality: Women Empowerment through Ornamental Fish Culture); SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth: Increase Farmers’ Income through Production Enhancement Strategy); SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production: Sustainable Fish Production); SDG 13 (Climate Action: Culture and Popularize Climate Resilient Fish Species); and SDG 14 (Life Below Water: Conserve Fish Diversity with Special Reference to SIFs). The following interventions are not only helping in achieving individual targets but also resulting in mutually beneficial synergies across the SDGs.
SWOT analysis of the fishers of Sagar Islands, Sundarbans
Sagar island is inhabited by more than two lakhs of indigenous people mostly associated with the fisheries and agriculture sector. 56 thousand people of Sagar Island belong to SC and ST communities, constituting 25% of the whole population, which belongs to the vulnerable, poor and marginalized part of the populace. A study was conducted to assess the socio-economic status, and SWOT analysis to know the baseline information towards socio-economic upliftment. The results of the SWOT analysis was given in Fig.. Training and capacity building for alternatives source of income would be an effective strategy for improving their livelihoods.
Women empowerment through ornamental fish culture
The ICAR-CIFRI encouraged small-scale backyard ornamental fish culture enterprise by woman to earn additional livelihood in the state of West Bengal through distribution of ornamental fish culture kits, exposure visits, hands on training and demonstration.The women of Amtoli and Kultali of Sundarbans have also started marketing in local areas.
Project Title: Assessment of environmental variability, nutrient fluxes and biotic community interactions of a few mangroves stands of Indian Sundarbans eco-region
Duration : April 2020 to March 2023
Project Personnel : B. K. Das (P.I, w.e.f. 01.04.22) ,S. Dam Roy (P.I, upto 31.03.2022)
, Roshith C.M., L. Kumar, T. N. Chanu(upto 31.03.22), H. Chowdhury (upto 31.3.2021) A. Saha (w.e.f. 01.04.22), P. J. Majhi (w.e.f. 01.04.22), P. Gogoi (w.e.f. 01.04.22)
Surveys were conducted in pre-monsoon (May,2021) and monsoon (September,2022) season at Jharkhali, Dhamakhali and Patharpratima stations of Indian Sundarbans ecoregion on environmental parameters, mangroves and other biota. Basic environmental parameters are given in Fig. To understand the characteristics and the potentials of mangrove leaf litter in supplying organic carbon and nutrients to the coastal waters, major mangrove species (Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia alba, and Rhizophora mucronata) form different mangrove ecosystem (Jharkhali, Dhamakhali and Patharpratima) of Indian Sundarbans (Ceriops tagal only from Patharpratima), West Bengal, India, were examined in controlled environmental conditions. This was to determine the possible species-specific and habitat based differences during the decomposition of mangrove leaf litter through 120 day laboratory leaching process. Leaf mass decreased in all four species. Dry mass loss at the end of incubation study was 61.1-68.4% of initial dry mass in A. alba, 60.5-66.1% in A. officinalis, 46.5-54.9% in R. mucronata and 39% for C. tagal. Habitat water quality has role on decomposition of mangrove leaf litter, as Dhamakhali water showed slightly higher decompositions which may be due to low water salinity.
Incubated water analysis indicates the significant increase of electrical conductivity (EC) in the leachate which may be due to the rapid leaching of water soluble inorganic and organic substances. Whereas, pH of the leached water was slightly lower . The decomposition rates for Avicennia sp. were much higher than those of the other two species. The amounts of bioavailable nutrients dissolved in the water were also measured. Although minimal increase in Nitrate-N content was observed in water phase, for the dissolved Phosphate-P, all litter types showed increased concentration. This is because N is largely stored in the non-soluble organic form notably proteins in leaves while P is in the form of Phosphate-P. Inter-specific variations were observed for leachable fractions of nutrients and they appeared to be in proportional relation with % of mass loss.
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Fig. Variation in water quality parameters in selected stations of Indian Sundarbans; JHK:Jharkhali, DHK: Dhamakhali, PP: Patharpratima
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Fig.. Mangrove leaf litter mass loss (in 120 days) from the incubation experiments. | |||
A total of sixty-six species of phytoplankton were recorded from the studied stations with the higher density at Patharpratima (4,449±2,046 ul-1). Species richness exhibited higher (44 species overall dominated by diatoms) in Patharpratima especially in the mangrove stands of A. marina. While comparing the plankton population at Jharkhali and Dhamakhali, revealed that a total of 54 species were recorded. The samples collected from the mangrove stands of Avicenia marina/Aegicerops sp., and Ceriops tagal, revealed that all were dominated by Bacillariophyceae. However, the Cyanophyceae community also contributed significantly from Ceriops tagal mangrove stands. Overall, the quantitative abundance of phytoplankton ranged between (3,746 to 12,244 ul-1). The major percentage contributors of zooplankton were Copepoda (42%), copepod nauplii (27%), rotifera (13%), cladocera (10%), mysids (7%). Small-bodied copepods viz. Oithona sp. and Bestiolinasimilis ranked their maximum abundance of the total Copepoda population. Altogether, holoplankters contributed maximally to the range between 42-65%, and meroplankters 35-58% of the total zooplankton population.
The relationship between the gastropods (Littorariamelanostoma, L. scabra, Nerita articulata) and the selected mangrove species (A. marina, A. alba, C. tagal and Aegicerascorniculatum) was investigated at Patharpratima and Frazerganj station. The attachment/ association of the species L. melanostomawith mangrove species A. marina (9 – 65 nos./tree) was found to be maximum at both the sites and their attachment was recorded at a maximum climbing height of 1.67 m. However, a lower abundance (2 – 8 nos./ tree) of Nerita articulatawas observed at a height of <1.0 m, regardless of the species-specific association of mangrove species. The highest L. melanostoma distribution (frequency) was for the length group 150 – 159 mm followed by 200 – 249 mm, while N. articulata was for the length group 249 – 300 mm. The species-specific interactions of L. melanostomawith the mangrove species A. marina/ A. alba can be correlated to living on a dry substrate surface (climbing on the leaf, tree trunk) above the high tide line. Overall, mangrove associated macrobenthic abundance ranged between 26 – 68 ind./m2 with dominated by Pirenella cingulate.
Distribution of L. melanostoma L. melanostoma attached in leaves and trunk
L.melanostoma in tree trunk
The seasonal assessment of Juvenile fish assemblage collected from the mixed mangrove stands was also performed. In total, 35 juvenile fish species belonging to 22 families were recorded with dominated by Order Perciformes (15%). The species richness was maximum in the monsoon season (35 species) followed by the pre-monsoon (22 juvenile fish species). Overall, maximum dominance was for Oryziasdancena accounted for 15.22% followed by Anodontostomachacunda (12.18%) and Mystusgulio (5.58%). The length range of O. dancena, Anodontostomachacunda and Mystusgulio varied from 8.86 to 18.57 mm, 8.70 to 10.51 cm. and 9.3 cm to 14.5 cm, respectively. The pattern of seasonal juvenile fish abundance showed subtle variation with a maximum contribution from Planilizatade (10%) where the length range recorded between 14.5 cm and 18.98 cm in the monsoon season. In pre-monsoon, O. dancena (27.52%) made the highest contribution followed by Anodontostomachacunda (20.18%). Station Patharpratima exhibited maximum diversity (H= 3.46) as compared to Jharkhali (H=2.41) and Dhamakhali (H= 1.61).
Project Project Title : Sustainable Inland Fisheries Development Pathways to Ensure Sustainable Development GoalsSe
Scientific Personnel :
B. K. Das (PI), M. A. Hassan, A. K. Das, Arun Pandit, A. Roy, Lianthuamluaia, P. Debroy, Mitsh Ramteke, Satish Koushlesh, T. Nirupada Chanu, Ganesh Chandra, Prajna R. Swain, Suman Kumari , Gunjan Karnatak, Anjana Ekka
- Seven SDGs viz., SDGs 1: End poverty, 2: Zero hunger, 5: Gender equity and women empowerment, 8: Economic Growth,12: Sustainable Consumption and Production, 13: Climate Action and 14: Life below water were the major focus of the project
- In Chhattisgarh, maximum percentage of the expenditure on food purposes (47.80%) followed by the fishers spent 14.32%, 13.12%, 12.86%, and 11.94% on health, clothing, entertainment, and others and education purposes, respectively. A total of 4.15 kg SIFs per family per year was available for Duma wetland, West Bengal. Average number of income generating activities per household ranged from 3.92 to 4.4 in floodplain wetlands of Lower Ganga Basin
Capacity building of women of vulnerable community in ornamental fisheries to meet SDG 5
Capacity building and skill development of the women of vulnerable community in ornamental fisheries was done. The trainings were conducted for 24 women from Kultali, Sundarbans.