Bhubaneswar, Jul 4: The Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project in Odisha has won First Prize in the Government Sector at the Seafood Expo Bharat 2025 (SEB-25). The event was held from July 1 to July 3 at the Chennai Trade Centre.
This award recognizes Odisha’s strong work in promoting climate-friendly fish farming and helping coastal communities build better, more sustainable lives. A woman climate champion from the state proudly shared her story on stage, inspiring many in the audience.
SEB-25 is one of India’s biggest events for people working in fisheries and aquaculture. It was organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The ECRICC project is run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with support from the UNDP and the Green Climate Fund. In Odisha, it is implemented by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.
The project supports sustainable livelihoods by encouraging ecosystem-based solutions and helping local communities adapt to climate change. Odisha is leading efforts in mud crab farming, ornamental fish breeding, and eco-friendly aquaculture. These efforts support the state's goal of building a developed Odisha by 2036 and align with the national goal of a developed India by 2047.
At the expo, Odisha’s ECRICC team set up a special stall showing their work. One of the main attractions was a live demo of pond-based mud crab farming, which drew lots of attention. The stall also displayed videos and stories of real people—especially women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds—who have benefitted from the project.
A 14-member team from Odisha, including project officials and farmers, took part in the event. They shared their knowledge, built new connections, and explored new ways to expand their work.
Important visitors to the Odisha stall included the Secretary of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority, a diplomat from the Embassy of Spain, and the CEO of the National Fisheries Development Board. These visits helped increase awareness of Odisha’s climate-smart aquaculture work and opened doors for future partnerships and support.
With over 3,000 national and international guests attending, Odisha’s success at SEB-25 brought great attention to its efforts in protecting coastal ecosystems and helping communities adapt to climate change.
