Nutrition Security and Fisheries: Observance of World Fisheries Day 2020

摘要

The World Fisheries Day 2020 was observed on-line by Association of Fisheries Graduates, Cochin, Kerala on 21/11/2020 and a Panel Discussion was organized on the theme for this year 'Nutrition Security and Fisheries'. In introductory note, Dr N. K. Sasidharan Pillai, Former Joint Director, Dept of Fisheries, Govt of Kerala highlighted ways by which COVID-19 drastically affected fisheries sector in India where more than 60 million people are employed. Fish consumption annually is 6-7kg/person in India but is nearly 30kg in Kerala. Importance of culture fisheries (aquaculture) is more felt now globally and shifted from capture fisheries, and wild captured fish gives more nutritional value than cultured ones. Dr Pillai also spoke about UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasizing on a world without hunger and poverty. In 2020, India ranks 94 among 107 countries in Global Hunger Index which isn't good. He outlined that fish is an important component in maintaining people's nutritional security and India needs a roadmap for a nutritional-cum-food secured nation.