Climate change requires coordinated global action, says a union minister

Parshottam Rupala, a minister in the Union government, has advocated for coordinated international action to combat climate change in the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

Additionally, the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy encouraged government organizations to establish strategic alliances around the potential and difficulties that the Indian and Pacific oceans share.

In order to turn the area into a viable home for all living forms, Rupala also urged people to take ownership of the difficulties they face and work to find solutions.

After kicking off the ‘International Conclave on Mainstreaming Climate Change into International Fisheries Governance and Strengthening of Fisheries Management Measures in the Indo-Pacific region,’ the union minister made the comments today in Mahabalipuram, not far from here.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations organized the event with assistance from the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy.

In reference to the ministry’s objectives, he said that over the course of the previous nine years, the Center has brought in transformative changes and reforms in fish production, technology infusion, infrastructure modernization, and entrepreneurial development.

According to him, the ministry was also constructing an integrated aqua park (a multifunctional seaweed park) in the state at a cost of Rs. 1.27 billion.

“Since 2015, attention has been given to modernisation and creation of 107 projects of fishing harbors and fish landing centers across the coastal states,” he said.

In light of the fact that the fishing industry supports more than 2.8 million fishermen and fish growers, he said that “seafood exports have more than doubled in the past nine years, with record exports of Rs 63,969 crore in 2022-23”.

“Shrimp exports have also more than doubled in the past nine years, reaching Rs 43,135 crore in 2022-23” , he said.

“Under several programs, it is projected that 61.9 lakh jobs and other options for a living have been created in the last nine years to sustain the community of fishermen. The Group Accident Insurance Scheme insures 38 lakh fishermen on average each year, he said.