Odisha's ECRICC Project Shines at Seafood Expo Bharat 2025: A Leap Towards Climate-Resilient Aquaculture

Odisha's Triumph at Seafood Expo Bharat 2025

Bhubaneswar: The Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) Project from Odisha has clinched the top award in the 'government sector' category at the Seafood Expo Bharat 2025 (SEB-25), which took place from July 1 to 3 at the Chennai Trade Centre. This accolade underscores Odisha's innovative strides in fostering climate-resilient aquaculture and community-driven development in coastal areas, according to a recent announcement.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), part of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, organized SEB-25, a key event for stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. This year's expo attracted over 3,000 participants from both domestic and international backgrounds. The ECRICC Project, which receives backing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and UNDP, is executed nationally by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities. In Odisha, the initiative is managed by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.

Odisha's exhibition drew significant attention at SEB-25, showcasing live demonstrations of mud crab farming, multimedia displays, and inspiring transformation stories from local beneficiaries, particularly women and marginalized groups. This initiative is pivotal in promoting scientific mud crab farming, ornamental fisheries, and sustainable aquaculture, while also empowering local climate advocates and institutions. One of the women climate champions expressed, “It was a fantastic opportunity for our grassroots representatives to showcase our state on a national stage.”

A delegation of 14 members from Odisha, including officials from SPMU and DPMU, community leaders, and crab farmers, participated in the expo. Their involvement fostered knowledge sharing, technical partnerships, and the potential to expand community-based aquaculture practices. Notable visitors to the stall included the Secretary of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Counsellor from the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi, and the CEO of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in Hyderabad. The recognition received at SEB-25 highlights Odisha's dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its vision for a developed Odisha by 2036, in line with the Prime Minister’s goal of a developed India by 2047.