SEAmposium is a Ecofolks initiative on Ocean Conservation. The event is organised along with The Mumbai Zoo & ICAR-CIFE & serves as a important platform for bringing together the stakeholders, shaping the narrative & driving action on this last big resource, The Ocean.
SEAmposium strives to promote awareness about the importance of marine conservation and sustainable practices. It aims to educate students, faculty members and the community on marine ecosystems and their preservation. It facilitate meaningful discussions among experts, researchers and stakeholders in the field of marine science & provide a platform for networking and collaboration among individuals and organizations interested in ocean conservation efforts.
Since the inception in 2022, SEAmposium has brought together experts & thought leaders from various fields, including scientists, policymakers, academicians, and civil society, to engage in fruitful discussions on a range of topics such as marine biodiversity, stranding & rescue of Marine animals, beach cleanups and other mitigation measures.
In our 2nd edition we are collaborating with ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education ( CIFE), a leading Fisheries University & a center of excellence since 1961 & Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan & Zoo, which is one of the oldest zoos in the country established in 1862 & the only zoo in the country to successfully introduce the Penguins.
What is it that we are discussing in SEAmposium 2023?
In the 2nd edition we plan to explore the adventurous side of the ocean along with sustainability & also touch upon Lifestyle changes that we need to incorporate as a part of the ambitious policy of Mission LiFE.
Mumbai is an ocean of potential for those who are willing to take the plunge. Mumbai wouldn’t have been what it is without the ocean near which it sits. Seven Islands and a natural harbor has shaped the destiny of this city. SEAmposium is a one-of-a-kind platform that brings together many stakeholders to celebrate the intrinsic connection that the Sea shares with Mumbai City. It is an annual port of call for all the ocean lovers and enthusiasts.
SEAmposium is the annual arribada of ocean lovers congregating to create bioluminescence of ideas. A rookery that will spawn imagination for exploration and not exploitation.This one-day festival- where the first half is dedicated to SEAmposium & the other half for the Ocean film festival if an assortment of talks, films, photography, debate involving stakeholders from Beach cleanups, Mangrove conservation, Turtle tourism, Shore walkers, Surfers, Underwater filmmakers, Beach resort owners, Ports, Fishing community et al. This festival is an attempt to re-connect the people of Mumbai to the ocean and our coast in a new way with a vision to drive home the message that –
‘Ocean is not a huge resource to consume but the last resource to conserve’.
Shores are safe & secure, The Ocean is dark & deep. Shores are fun and frolic, Ocean commands fear and respect. But we have to leave the shores for the ocean. History is witness to the fact that the people who left the shore ruled the people who didn’t. From Sea fearing we have to become sea faring, and only then will the ocean let you know its deep secrets. It will reveal the mysteries of life, because it is the ocean from where the life emerged. In the past the mythical ocean had to be churned by opposing forces & from its deep recess emerged the nectar of eternal life….Amrut. But before that emerged Halahal-the poison that could have killed all life.
In the modern day, churning on the land has created Halahal which is being dumped in the ocean slowly turning it acidic. The Ocean needs to be saved from this poison and Neelkanth will not come as our savior. We have to rise to be the Shiva. Temperatures are rising, Snow caps are melting, species are getting extinct. Life on earth is getting threatened.
Climate change is real.
‘Life emerged from the ocean, let it not submerge in it’.
The five oceans that make the planet viz Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern & Arctic ( PAISA) is a unique interconnected system that propels the global climate, global trade, geopolitics & global economies. Over the years this system has come under a severe pressure due to the activities on the land. Habitat destruction, Oil spills, Untreated sewage, Overfishing & the greatest of all..Plastic.
SEAmposium stands on the fundamental principles of O – Ocean conservation, C -Community, E – Edutainment, A – Art & Adventure, N – Native people, all interconnected like the oceans creating synergies that can mitigate the human impact.
This initiative is just a drop in the Ocean, but every drop counts.
As rightly put by Rumi, ‘ You are not a drop in the Ocean, You are the entire Ocean in a drop’
The Man who put India on the Global Freediving Map with 4 National Records in May 2022, Mario is India’s Only Level 3 Freediving Instructor & Instructor Trainer.
Mario, a native Goan, hails from a humble background.His youth was spent against the backdrop of the ocean, exploring its various depths and nurturing a deep connection with the myriad life beneath its surface.
Indian Freediving champion, Mario Fernandes, had set four national records last year in May, accentuating India’s global presence in this challenging sport. As India’s only Level 3 Freediving Instructor and instructor trainer. His record-breaking performance took place in Israel under the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA). He excelled in four categories: Constant Weight With Bi-Fins(45m), Free Immersion (40m), Dynamic With Bi-Fins (86m), Static Apnea, where he held his breath for an impressive 4 minutes and 29 seconds, submerging at the water’s surface. His personal best breath-hold time is 7 minutes during training.
Prachi pursued her Post-graduate degree in zoology with a specialization in Oceanography and fishery science in India. After completing her studies, she started her career as a research scholar at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography. She passionately pursued conservation for sea turtle conservation in her coastal state, Maharashtra. Now she has ventured into sea life by joining for recovery of the charismatic marine mammal (king of the sea)- Dugong,to make a difference in marine life conservation. Currently, she is working on Dugong conservation in India at the Wildlife Institute of India and working on Ph.D. on seagrass-associated fauna from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara. She received the women’s divers hall of fame dive grant. She is also a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) & Commission on Education and Communication (CEC). Her research interests include understanding the ecology of endangered species, diversity assessment of marine life, and connecting the conserving ecosystem benefits with livelihood.
Lisbon, a resident of Vasai, along with his wife Zsuzsanna, has been leading efforts to organize beach clean-up initiatives along the Vasai coast since 2017. Over a span of six years, Lisbon and his dedicated team have successfully removed more than 700 tonnes of plastic waste from the shores. However, he acknowledges that the proper disposal of the collected waste remains a persistent challenge.
Collaborating with groups like “My Plastic Free Vasai” and “प्लास्टिक मेरी जिम्मेदारी,” they now extend their efforts to residential complexes, encouraging plastic waste recycling.
Beyond their routine beach clean-up campaigns and recycling initiatives, Lisbon and his team actively engage with schools and colleges by delivering presentations about the adverse impacts of plastics and excessive consumption. Additionally, they are deeply involved in planting mangroves and tree saplings along the coastline, with an impressive count of over 5000 saplings planted to date. They have also partnered with international shipping companies and the NGO eyesea.org to explore more affordable options for removing plastic waste from the environment.
Dr. Madhuri Pathak, Scientist has been engaged in teaching, research and extension activities related to Aquaculture System Management, Shrimp Farming, Aquaculture Environment Management.
Intensively involved in the research of Seaweed integration with shrimp farming.
Dr. Karankumar Ramteke is a distinguished Scientist in the field of Fisheries Resource Management at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) in Mumbai. With a keen focus on spatial ecology, Dr. Ramteke’s expertise lies in leveraging remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to unravel complex ecological patterns and processes. His research endeavors also encompass fisheries quantitative assessment and the intricate dynamics of fishing interactions. Dr. Ramteke’s profound insights and innovative approach have made significant contributions to our understanding of aquatic ecosystems and sustainable fisheries management. His dedication to advancing the field is evident through his multidisciplinary work, contributing to the holistic conservation and utilization of marine resources.
Mr. Abuthagir Iburahim is working as Scientist in Fisheries resources management in Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai since 2020. Prior to that he worked along with several NGOs of Mumbai for creating awareness realted to marine diversity. He is co authors of books such as instant Indian fisheries and instant world fisheries. He has worked on Bagnet fisheries along the coast of Maharashtra and has around 10 publications realted to Indian fisheries. He is also one of the content creator for the social media page thefisherieschanikyaneeti.
Zia Hajeebhoy is a passionate sailor and loves the outdoors. Her focus in the last decade has been to create awareness of the beautiful coastline and water ways that India has and to instil in people the joy for sailing and thereby respect for the ocean. Sailing is an environmentally friendly sport powered by wind. Zia has built the Aquasail brand and created access to sailing driven by the vision of building eco friendly leisure and sporting activities that will help create awareness about the oceans and the planet. Over a 130000 people have experienced sailing as a result. Zia is an alumnus of St Xaviers College and Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. She has recently published her first book.
Dr. Paramita Banerjee Sawant is currently working as a Principal Scientist (Division of Aquaculture) in ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai. She started her academic career in the year 2000, as Lecturer, Faculty of Fisheries in West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences (WBUAFS, Kolkata) and thereafter qualified the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) examination to join ICAR at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) followed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE).
She specializes in ornamental fish culture, breeding and colour enhancement of native and high-value ornamental fishes using processed biowaste, has guided 14 Masters’ and 4 Doctoral students and has generated several technologies in her field of specialization. In the twenty-three years of her career, she has trained several ornamental fish farmers, young fisheries professionals and young fisheries enthusiasts under Tribal Sub Plan and CAFT training programs. She has to her credit, 144 research publications, several resource books and training manuals in English, Hindi, and local languages for students, entrepreneurs and ornamental fish farmers. Dr. Paramita is recipient of several National and International awards notable among which are Best Teacher Award, Stree Kartiva Samman Award, of ICAR and Govt. of Maharashtra. She has headed a number of projects and is presently associated as PI with the prestigious “All India Network Project on Ornamental Fish Breeding and Culture” of ICAR and the World Bank funded “National Agricultural Higher Education Project”.
Phone: +919821194396
Email: info@ecofolks.com
Mumbai, India.
