By Bijoylakshmi Bhagawati| As an Assamese, fish holds a special place in our hearts—it’s our love language and a staple in our homes. When I learned I would be placed in Odisha for the fellowship, I was thrilled at the prospect of having easy access to this beloved staple. The paintings I created….
By Abhishek Patil and CH. Praveen Kumar| Are you as intrigued by the idea of “blue carbon” as we are? Read about the potential of this climate solution for India’s coastal ecosystems and communities, and how Dakshin engages with this promising and perilous idea…
By Meera Anna Oommen| Long before Dakshin was founded, a journey to a remote turtle camp in Great Nicobar led us to a memorable meal of freshly caught fish on a pristine beach, inspiring our commitment to sustainable fishing. Explore how our newly launched campaign, #KhaneKeLiyeBachao champions this balance, aiming to ensure both the conservation of marine life and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Here’s a round-up of our SeaChange journey in the last quarter. Every step we take reflects our effort to make a tangible contribution to healthier seas and thriving communities along the coasts.
By Kumar Sahayaraju| Lakshadweep Islands’ spectacular coral atolls, azure lagoons, white beaches, and thriving marine life have received much attention recently, making them an increasingly popular destination for tourists. However, the warm and welcoming local inhabitants, their relationships with the beaches, reefs, and lagoons, their unique culture and cuisine, maritime knowledge and skills, and the fragility of these islands are often forgotten.
Take a sneak peek into our SeaChange journey. Every step we take adds to a compelling tale of healthy seas, thriving communities, and unwavering environmental stewardship.
By Anu Priya Babu| Why do celebrations break out across oceans and shorelines on the 21st of November every year and how did this emerge as the ‘World Fisheries Day’? On this day, fishing communities across nations engage in public gatherings, cultural performances, exhibitions, rallies and workshops. In sync with this worldwide revelry, our teams in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and the Andamans organised fisheries meetings, mimes, and local events to celebrate along with the fishing communities their fisheries and coastal ecosystems. But what is so special about this day and what meaning does it hold for India’s diverse small-scale fishers? The answer took us to the proud history of fisher movements in South Asia, led by Indian fishers…
By Anu Priya Babu| The urgency to combat what is now termed the ‘climate crisis’ has led to a paradigm shift in global discussions with COP28 in Dubai becoming a significant event. Notably, the attempt to re-center oceans in climate strategies highlights the controversial role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. The long-persisting challenges around MPAs as conservation tools, especially in the global south, and in regions like the northern Indian Ocean, where a complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic factors call into question increasing MPA coverage targets as blanket climate solutions.
In a bid to raise critical conversation and foster community engagement on coastal conservation, the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) collaborated with Dakshin’s field teams to host a series of impactful film screenings across three diverse locations in India. The events were held in Ganjam (Odisha), Olaikuda (Tamil Nadu), and Malvan (Maharashtra) in early December 2023 and provided a unique platform for initiating discussions on pressing coastal challenges and highlighted the pivotal role of community participation.
World Fisheries Day on 21st November 2023 witnessed vibrant celebrations across the diverse coastal landscapes of India organised by our teams. The activities organised echo the shared commitment to sustainable fishing practices, community well-being, and the preservation of coastal ecosystems.