Oct 1, 2019: A delegation of the Wildlife Conservation Society – India (WCS – India) met members of the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) at the CMLRE headquarters in Kochi. The Head of the Marine Conservation Program, WCS – India, Dr. Vardhan Patankar and Project Associates Mr. Avik Banerjee and Ms. Zoya Tyabji held talks with Mr. M. Sudhakar, Scientist – G (Director. CMLRE) and Scientist- C, Shri Subramanian.
Marine team presented the mandate of WCS - India, and introduced the members of the team and its immediate objective of notifying Angria bank as an MPA and proposed work in Lakshadweep archipelago. During the interaction meet, Dr. M. Sudhakar provided insights into the broad procedures involved in conservation and the role of researchers in convincing politicians and mangers.
After positive and productive interactions, ways to facilitate collaboration between the two organisations were discussed in order to work towards exploration and conservation of marine systems, specifically within the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.