KOCHI: The Centre for Taxonomy of Aquatic Animals, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), is organising a four-day national workshop on native fresh water species in India from December 1 at the varsity. Marine scientist and former director of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, K Venkataraman, will inaugurate the workshop.
The workshop is aimed at finding means to introduce an integrated approach on taxonomy to conserve the fresh water fish species in the country with specially focusing on the species in the Western Ghats.
Scientists and researchers from across the country will present their study reports on fish taxonomy and will review the studies on native fresh water species in the country with special focus on the species seen in Western Ghats at the meet. Various issues and challenges being faced by the sector such as taxonomy of indigenous freshwater species, assessment of endangered fish species, importance of endemic species in aquarium trade, participatory approach on indigenous fish conservation and relevance of taxonomy to freshwater fish conservation will be discussed at the workshop.