HIGH COMMISSIONER of India accredited to CARICOM Secretariat based in Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa, has announced that the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has received a new fisheries assessment scientist on its technical team from India, under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) expert scheme.

Dr. Pranaya Kumar Parida, who holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries Resource Management from India, with more than 18 years of experience in Fisheries Research, Teaching and Extension, was recruited by India to assume a three-year tenure with the CRFM, through the longstanding Cooperation Programme between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Government of India under its ITEC programme.

Dr. Parida will assist the CRFM and its Member States with fisheries assessment studies, statistical analyses of commercially exploited marine fish stocks, as well as the formulation of fisheries management plans and advice for decision-making.

He will also provide training to fisheries biologists, data collectors, and data managers in CRFM member states and at the CRFM Secretariat. He will be based at the CRFM Office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dr Parida has published more than 35 international peer-reviewed research papers, ten popular articles, and two books. He has been awarded a design patent and has filed another four patents as a co-inventor.

Dr. Parida previously served as Assistant Professor (Fisheries Resource Management) at the College of Fisheries, GADVASU, Ludhiana. He has furthermore conducted over 50 training programmes for farmers, students from different universities, and government officials from different states of India.

High commissioner, Dr K J Srinivasa, stated that this deployment was another addition to its flagship Development partnership programme, which forms a major pillar of India-CARICOM relations. India has been contributing to various projects in the region’s countries in areas such as Infrastructure, Transport, Healthcare, Solar Energy, Agriculture, IT etc. under its ITEC Programme designed for skill development and capacity building to support the region’s developmental goals which include the deputation of such experts.

He also underlined India’s willingness to work with CARICOM nations on future projects of their interest and priorities. High Commissioner Dr Srinivasa urged all member countries to use Dr Parida’s expertise in fisheries.

According to Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism: “The recruitment of Dr. Parida to assist with stock assessment studies is expected to provide critical data and information on the state of our fisheries, enabling CRFM Member States to enhance the way they manage the region’s fisheries resources. Through this engagement, the CRFM will continue to work towards strategically improving the sustainable development and management of the living marine resources of the CARICOM and CRFM Member States. The CRFM Secretariat is very grateful for the generous support being provided by the Government of India in making the services of Dr. Parida available to the CRFM Member States.”