Mayuresh Gangal, Cofounder, Know Your Fish Initiative, Alumnus, Post-Graduate Programme in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, WCS-India and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Research affiliate – Oceans and Coast Programme, Nature Conservation Foundation

Currently pursuing a PhD in understanding impacts of overfishing on fish populations on the west coast of India. Also working in the Lakshadweep archipelago, documenting traditional fishing practices and how they change over time.

Talk Title: Can we make responsible seafood choices?

Overfishing is considered the main cause for the collapse of marine food webs and decline in the abundance of marine fishes. This has threatened not only the ecosystem but also food security and livelihoods of people depending on it. People working for marine conservation have directed their efforts in several different ways to deal with the problem of overfishing. Changing technology, changing fishing policy, fisheries regulations and protected areas are few of the examples. As it is a largely demand-based industry there are several efforts in the western world to create conditions that will allow seafood consumers to modify their seafood choices and thus seafood demand. Joining that effort we would like to introduce Indian seafood consumers, especially ones closer to the west coast of India with the Know Your Fish initiative. We intend to empower and encourage seafood consumers to make their seafood choices responsibly. Moving Waters Film Festival gives us the opportunity to introduce Know Your Fish to seafood consumers of Bangalore and explain how this initiative works. We would also like to use this opportunity to gather suggestions to make our initiative better.