KOCHI, Experts have called for an integrated conservation framework with stronger enforcement and community engagement to address the growing threat of illegal trade in marine wildlife in the country.
The call came during an ongoing national capacity building workshop at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR) here, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
The three-day workshop, jointly organized by CMFRI, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and WWF India, brought together 27 law enforcement officials from forest, police, postal department and Railway Protection Force from the West Coast and Lakshadweep states, along with scientists, environmentalists and policy makers.
Participants stressed the need for a comprehensive conservation strategy that combines scientific research, enforcement, policy support and community engagement to enhance the protection of marine wildlife.
The workshop noted that coordinated action, continuous monitoring and transparent dialogue with fishing communities is essential for effective conservation and enforcement in the marine sector.
Such engagement was necessary to address misconceptions surrounding marine conservation, especially in the context of the recently amended Wildlife Protection Act, experts said.
Based on relevant studies, the workshop noted that India recorded 17 incidents involving seizures of illicit shark derivatives between 2010 and 2022, with shark fins accounting for nearly 82 per cent of the total seizures.
During this period, around 15,839.5 kg of shark derivatives were seized, with Tamil Nadu emerging as a major hotspot accounting for nearly 65 per cent of the incidents.
In his inaugural address, Divisional Forest Officer Manu Sathyan said species identification remains one of the biggest challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in investigations into marine wildlife crimes.
He stressed the need for closer cooperation with research institutions such as CMFRI for the scientific identification and documentation of protected marine species.
CMFRI Director, Dr. Greenson George, stressed the importance of building a strong enforcement network and adopting technology-based monitoring mechanisms to reduce the illegal trade in marine wildlife.
He also highlighted the need for legislation in line with societal needs and ecosystem requirements.
Dipankar Ghose, senior director of biodiversity conservation at WWF India, said illegal trade involving marine species requires a different approach from terrestrial wildlife crime.
“It needs a deeper understanding of the livelihoods of poachers, the drivers behind the illegal wildlife trade, and stakeholder-led solutions to curb such activities,” he said.
Marine conservation in India should not be viewed just as a wildlife issue, but also as a fisheries and livelihood concern affecting coastal communities that depend on marine resources, said Dr. Shoba Jo Kezakodan, Head of Finfish Fisheries Division at CMFRI.
“Consultation and dialogue with fishermen are essential for smooth implementation and long-term conservation success,” she said.
She added that CMFRI provides scientific support to regulatory and enforcement agencies through rapid species identification and forensic examination of shark fins and other marine derivatives intended for export.
The workshop focuses on improving enforcement mechanisms, species identification, legal procedures, digital evidence collection and inter-agency coordination to combat marine wildlife crimes.
The sessions will be moderated by experts from CMFRI, WWF India, WCCB, Wildlife Institute of India, Dakshin Foundation and Kerala Fisheries Department.
The statement added that the discussions included learning about coral reefs, molluscs, marine mammals, turtles and fish, in addition to investigating cybercrimes related to wildlife and marine fisheries regulations.
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