The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) observed World Ocean Day 2023 on 8th June 2023 by conducting beach cleaning drives and an awareness workshop.
Veraval Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI organized a beach cleaning drive at Somnath Beach, a major tourist destination in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, which attracts a large number of visitors every day. All the staff of the Station actively participated in the initiative that primarily focused on collecting plastic waste from the beach and disposing of it properly. The VRS of ICAR-CMFRI also arranged a beach ride as a symbolic promotion of sustainable tourism along the coastal ecosystem. The initiative was supported by the Somnath Trust for facilitating the event and extending their help in the proper disposal of the collected waste.
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre conducted an awareness workshop-cum-beach cleaning drive along with the fisher folks and school students of Peda Jalaripeta fishing village in association with the DHAN Foundation. The students, fisher folk, and the staff members of VRC of ICAR-CMFRI took a Swachhta pledge to protect the oceans and marine life. Then they took a rally up to RK Beach raising slogans followed by a beach cleaning drive. The participants were made aware of the importance of preserving clean beaches in order to safeguard the coastal ecosystem.
On the occasion, Vizhinjam Regional Centre of the Institute organized an awareness programme and a drawing competition for school students in Vizhinjam area. Selected students participated in the drawing competition on the theme “The Beach I Saw”. As a part of the ocean awareness programme, all students were taken to Sagarika Marine Research Aquarium to raise awareness about ocean biodiversity and the importance of ocean conservation. The school teachers were presented with plants for planting on their school premises. In a separate programme, the Udaya Samudra group of Hotels organized a World Ocean Day Seminar titled ‘Ocean Love’ with the support from VRC of ICAR-CMFRI at Udaya-Samudra, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram.
Tuticorin Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI organized various programmes, including an awareness campaign on coastal and beach cleaning for sustainable ocean health. Activities such as human chain; coastal and beach cleaning in the fish landing center the fish landing center in Threspuram Fishing Village, Thoothukudi; distribution of awareness materials to the fishers on sustainable ocean health and impact of marine litter; and World Ocean Day slogan reading were conducted by the Station on the occasion.
Karwar Regional Station also conducted a beach cleaning drive in association with the Ministry of Earth Science, the Forest Department, Govt. of Karnataka and the Marine Biology Department of Karnataka University.
A cleanup activity was undertaken by the Mandapam Regional Centre at the Seashore of ICAR-CMFRI along the Gulf of Mannar coast. All the staff members participated and collected plastic waste to the tune of 100kg.
