Title : How can environmental DNA transform Indian fisheries management?
Abstract:
India is a significant player in global fisheries and aquaculture industries, contributing to food security and economic development. However, this vital and diverse resource faces management limitations, due to an obsolete monitoring system, which, coupled with climate change impacts, challenges sustainable exploitation of resources. To address this issue, emerging monitoring approaches such as those based on environmental DNA (eDNA) – i.e. DNA collected form environmental samples without the need of sampling or observing the target species, appear as promising solutions to transform fisheries management in India. As a non-invasive, logistically easy and cost-effective biodiversity monitoring approach, eDNA which ensures spatio-temporal coverage of a variety of ecosystems, providing fisheries management relevant information such as species distribution, abundance, behaviour and connectivity. Yet, despite its proven efficacy in different fields related to fisheries globally, the adoption of eDNA analyses remains limited in the Indian context. Here, through compelling narratives and other set examples, and making emphasis on the specific challenges that must be addressed to make it practically operational, I will outlook the potential of new opportunities brought by eDNA to promote significant changes in fisheries research and biodiversity management in India.
Audience take-away:
- The audience will gain insight into how eDNA analysis can revolutionize fisheries management by offering non-invasive tools for species detection, biodiversity assessment, and ecosystem monitoring.
- The integration of eDNA analysis offers a practical solution to complex fisheries management challenges by providing snapshot about the species presence, biodiversity, and ecosystem health.
