Northeast Desk, 12th May: Officials from Sikkim’s Fisheries Department and Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Director of ICAR’s Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR) in Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, convened for a pivotal meeting to enhance research and innovation in the state’s fisheries sector. The meeting coincided with Pandey’s two-day visit to Gangtok.
Chaired by Roshni Rai, Secretary of the Fisheries Department, the gathering was attended by departmental officers, senior scientists from ICAR Gangtok, and representatives from Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Discussions focused on formulating a roadmap for developing cold-water fisheries and aquaculture activities in Sikkim.
Pandey informed the attendees about DCFR’s plans to address challenges faced by the state’s fisheries sector due to climate change. Infrastructural requirements, technical support for riverine fish population studies, disease and hatchery management, fish nutrition, feed formulation, and post-harvest practices were among the key areas highlighted.
Assistant Director Surendra Bhandari provided an overview of Sikkim’s fisheries landscape, including updates on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the department’s activities.
Expressing appreciation for the warm reception, Pandey reiterated DCFR’s commitment to supporting Sikkim’s Fisheries Department. He emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, technology adoption, and capacity building to realize the full potential of the state’s fisheries resources.
In her concluding remarks, Secretary Rai extended gratitude to Pandey for his support and expressed the department’s commitment to persistent collaboration towards improving and enhancing Sikkim’s fisheries sector.