Current Science

Maneesh S. Bhandari ¹, Rajendra K. Meena ¹, Shailesh Pandey ², Vinay K. Varshney ³, A. Biju Kumar ⁴

Affiliations
1 Division of Genetics and Tree Improvement, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 248 195, IN
2 Forest Pathology Discipline, Division of Forest Protection, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 248 006, IN
3 Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 248 006, IN
4 University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, IN

Abstract

The 2018 International Biodiversity Congress (IBC 2018) focused on the theme ‘Biodiversity for ecological civilization’ through the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. Over 800 delegates from India and abroad attended the event. The congress was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, who stressed the need for protecting the Himalayan biodiversity hotspots and suggested an organic India mission by 2050. The event hosted six plenary, ten technical and three poster sessions under six themes. In total, 27 invited plenary lectures were delivered by eminent scholars and 92 papers were presented by the delegates.

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A. Biju Kumar ¹, Smrithy Raj ¹, C. P. Arjun ², Unmesh Katwate ³, Rajeev Raghavan ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, IN
2 C.V. Raman Laboratory of Ecological Informatics, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, IN
3 School of Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi 682 506, India and the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai 400 001, IN
4 Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi 682 506, IN

Abstract

Climate change and invasive species are two of the greatest threats to global biodiversity, and their impacts are compounded when they interact with each other¹. For example, altered flow regime as a result of climate change is one of the major pathways by which alien species are introduced into new aquatic ecosystems², while storms and associated flooding increase their dispersal through escapes from aquaculture facilities³.

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K. V. Akhilesh ¹, Shoba Joe Kizhakudan ¹, M. Muktha ¹, T. M. Najmudeen ¹, Sujitha Thomas ¹, Divya Karnad ², Dipani Sutaria ³, Merwyn Fernandes ⁴, Trisha Gupta ⁵, Naveen Namboothri ⁵, Vardhan Patankar ⁶, Swatipriyanka Sen ¹, Sijo P. Varghese ⁷, A. Biju Kumar ⁸, Alissa Barnes ⁵, K. K. Bineesh ⁹, Sajan John ¹⁰, Mayuresh Gangal ¹¹, M. Hashim ¹², Vinod Malayilethu ¹³, Zoya Tyabji ⁶, Malaika Vaz ¹⁴, Sandhya Sukumaran ¹, G. B. Purushottama ¹, Livi Wilson ¹, V. Mahesh ¹, Rekha J. Nair ¹, L. Remya ¹, Shikha Rahangdale ¹, P. P. Manojkumar ¹, K. Sivakumar ¹⁵, E. Vivekanandan ¹, P. U. Zacharia ¹, A. Gopalakrishnan ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682 018, IN
2 Department of Environmental Studies, Ashoka University, Sonipat 131 029, IN
3 9 Aranya Farms, Shilaj, Ahmedabad 382 115, IN
4 TRAFFIC India Office, New Delhi 110 003, IN
5 Dakshin Foundation, #1818, 9th Cross, 5th Main Road, Sahakar Nagar, Bengaluru 560 092, IN
6 Wildlife Conservation Society-India, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, 2nd Phase, Bengaluru 560 097, IN
7 Fishery Survey of India, Cochin Base, Kochi 682 005, IN
8 Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, IN
9 Zoological Survey of India, Chennai 600 028, IN
10 Wildlife Trust of India, Delhi 201 301, IN
11 Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru 570 017, IN
12 Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi 682 508, IN
13 WWF-India, ‘Prasanthi’, Kadavanthra, Kochi 682 020, IN
14 Untamed Planet Films, Bengaluru 560 001, IN
15 Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

Historically, India has been projected as one of the major elasmobranch fishing nations in the world. However, management and conservation efforts are not commensurate with this trend. Along with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, several generic conservation measures are in place at the regional/local level. But India is still a long way from meeting global conservation commitments. We present here the status of elasmobranch management and conservation in India, with the specific objective of identifying the gaps in the existing set-up. We also present recommendations based on a national consultative workshop held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, in February 2020. We recommend the implementation of a National Plan of Action (NPOA-Sharks) and more inclusive governance and policymaking for elasmobranch conservation in India.

Keywords

Consultative Meeting, Elasmobranch, Fisheries, Management and Conservation, Regulations.

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