Kochi: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery underscored the pivotal role of technology as a growth driver, stating that the application of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) could effectively tackle challenges in the marine fisheries sector. Bery made these remarks at the inauguration of a national workshop jointly organized by NITI Aayog, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), and the Kerala Fisheries Department at CMFRI in Kochi.
During the inauguration, Bery emphasized the need to comprehend demand dynamics for prioritizing production strategies, particularly as the demand for fish continues to rise. He highlighted that innovative strategies to enhance productivity are essential, with demand serving as a driving force for the economy.
The workshop aimed to address relevant issues in marine fisheries, formulate tailored strategies, and foster collaborations among coastal states to overcome challenges and explore opportunities in the sector.
Expressing concern about the growing disparity between states, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand noted the imbalanced growth of fisheries, with Andhra Pradesh experiencing significantly higher growth compared to most other maritime states. He stressed the importance of addressing this imbalance and proposed measures to boost seafood exports, including enhancing value addition and introducing cutting-edge processing innovations in the sector.
J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), advocated for exploring the untapped potential of oceanic and deep-sea resources. Referring to the estimated harvestable potential of 2.1 million metric tonnes of oceanic and deep-sea resources, Jena highlighted this as a potential new frontier for commercial fisheries.