The question of which fish to eat is becoming increasingly important for the future of India's marine ecosystems. The Know Your Fish (KYF) initiative urges people to choose seafood based on its natural breeding cycles rather than year-round availability.
}, {Experts, including marine biologists Puju Rathod and Mayuresh Gangala, as well as marine biologist Dr. Rohan Arthur and Mumbai fisherman Ganesh Nakhwa, and restaurateur Ilvika Chandavarkarkar, believe that seasonal seafood, while not a panacea, can be a significant step in protecting India's marine ecosystems.
Unlike general recommendations for endangered species, KYF uses a more practical approach. An online calendar created for the western coast of India helps consumers determine which fish species are breeding in different months and which ones should be avoided during that period. These recommendations take into account information on breeding cycles, biological characteristics, and the vulnerability of species to overfishing.
Similar guides are currently being developed for the eastern coast of India. Gangala emphasizes that the initiative's goal is not to condemn consumers or prescribe a diet, but to provide them with sufficient information to make informed decisions, as consumers themselves are part of the seafood system.
For Rathod, the main task is to make marine science accessible to ordinary citizens and to restore the connection between people and the ocean. She notes that when a person understands why fish cannot be eaten in a certain season, they are better able to make an independent decision. Information on breeding cycles, biological characteristics, vulnerability, and months when reduced consumption will have the greatest impact is attached to each species.
The founders cautiously emphasize that the calendar is not a universal solution to all of India's fishing problems; it is a tool that helps collectively reduce the impact on marine ecosystems by moving science from research papers into daily decisions. This is particularly relevant today because extensive cold chain systems allow fish caught in one region to appear in markets hundreds of kilometers away from the catch site, facilitating the purchase of species that are in their breeding season elsewhere.
Long before sustainable development became part of everyday conversation, many coastal communities had already followed seasons in their diet. For example, in Bengali families, valuable fish traditionally disappears from the table after the Saraswati Puja festival and only returns around the monsoon season. Although improved transport and storage allow for it to be available most of the year, this custom persists in many homes.
Gangala believes that many of these traditions were rooted in ecology, not just culture. He suggests that many communities have traditions related to seasonal seafood, not only in Bengal but also along the western coast. The team compared local knowledge with decades of fisheries science to see if these practices align with the biology of various species.
However, the answer is mixed: some traditional practices closely match breeding cycles, while others do not.
Dr. Rohan Arthur, senior scientist and founding trustee of the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), argues that the issue goes far beyond what is on the plate. Seasonality is one of the oldest forms of ecological knowledge possessed by coastal communities. He believes that local communities have always had built-in mechanisms for recognizing seasonality, and there are two crucial principles of ecological sustainability between seasonality and location.
Nevertheless, following these principles is becoming harder due to improved cold chain logistics, expanded transport networks, and constant consumer demand, which allows seafood to travel far beyond the coast. Arthur notes that the market encourages people to buy their favorite fish at any time, but maintaining seasonality has value because people eat what is naturally available at that moment.
For Arthur, the seafood calendar returns an important decision to consumers. He stresses that this is not just a matter of food security, but also the protection of the ecological integrity of fish populations. However, he warns that choosing seasonal seafood alone is not enough to protect India's fisheries, as climate change is already transforming the oceans.
Climate uncertainty is growing, and fishermen are facing the fact that species that used to appear predictably may now appear earlier, later, or in smaller numbers. Therefore, Arthur views seasonal seafood as part of a much larger mosaic, where rational consumer choice must be combined with broader conservation efforts.
Choosing seasonal seafood is relatively easy at home, but restaurants face a different challenge, as visitors often expect their favorite fish to be available year-round. Ilvika Chandavarkarkar, chef and co-founder of Malaka Spice in Pune, asserts that restaurants can forgo a popular dish for the sake of sustainability. Her restaurant displays the KYF calendar next to the menu, prompting guests to think differently.
If royal fish is in its breeding season, the restaurant offers another seasonal catch. In some cases, there are no alternatives, and such species are completely excluded from the menu. Although this is not always an easy decision, as guests may specifically come for them, Chandavarkarkar insists on the necessity of responsibility.
The situation is even more complex with mollusks, as they have few suitable substitutes. Instead of simply stating unavailability, the restaurant explains to guests why the dish is not served. Chandavarkarkar notes that although some customers may be disappointed, responsibility is ultimately what matters.
In addition to customers, the calendar is used to train Malaka Spice staff so that chefs and waiters know about breeding seasons before recommending dishes. Ganesh Nakhwa, a fisherman from Mumbai, noted a sharp rise in the price of surmai, which served as a reminder of the unpredictability of catches due to changing weather conditions. He says that climate change disrupts many patterns, and KYF's current focus is on collecting real-time data from fishermen to understand if breeding seasons are shifting.
These changes are already affecting policy: the annual fishing ban in Maharashtra was extended until August 15 due to changes in rainfall patterns. Nakhwa points out that seasonal signals, such as the southwest monsoon, are becoming less predictable, affecting the arrival of species like Bombay duck and shrimp, and creating problems for families dependent on this catch.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) expressed serious concern over deficiencies in the Green India Mission program, noting that the goal of increasing forest cover was far from being achieved over the past decade. The audit revealed significant issues in financial control and planning that undermined the mission's set objectives.
According to the report, the observed increase in forest cover under the Green India Mission (GIM) for the period from 2015-16 to 2024-25 was significantly lower than planned, lagging by almost 98%. The CAG pointed out numerous shortcomings in the implementation of this national program aimed at improving and increasing green cover.
Furthermore, it was observed that key vulnerable areas did not receive adequate attention during afforestation activities, which weakens efforts to combat climate change.
Every day, millions of liters of contaminated water flow through numerous rivers in South Africa, eventually reaching the sea. The Stibeuwel River in Franschhoek, a small tributary located about 75 kilometers east of Cape Town, is heavily polluted. This pollution stems from inadequate sewage and drainage systems serving the nearby informal settlement of Langrug, where wastewater and contaminated rainwater are discharged.
Langrug is home to approximately 26,000 people living in densely populated housing, where outdated and overloaded infrastructure cannot cope with the demand. A water resources researcher from the University of Cape Town's Institute for Future Water and the director of the Water Hub research center in Franschhoek are part of a group of scientists who work more closely with nature, studying its methods for water purification and reuse.
Research at Water Hub takes place at an old, abandoned treatment facility. This site is being transformed into a living laboratory to demonstrate ways to convert highly contaminated water into a safe resource without using chemical additives.
In a recent scientific paper, the authors described the results of a project to install natural filtration systems to clean the Stibeuwel River. Old drying beds, previously used for sludge dewatering at the former treatment plant, were utilized. These beds were filled with fine gravel, biochar (a wood byproduct heated at 800 degrees Celsius), and coarse sand.
The contaminated river water slowly passes through these filtration beds, allowing for the removal of pollutants such as bacteria and nutrients. After about five days, the water becomes clean enough for irrigation. The study demonstrated the high efficiency of this method: the naturally purified water consistently showed no E. coli bacteria, indicating the absence of human or animal waste contamination.
Furthermore, the system removed between 85% and 95% of ammonia and phosphorus, which pollute rivers and reservoirs. These contaminants remain in the filtration beds, where naturally present microbes feed on them and break down most of the pollution. Plants also absorb excess nutrients, such as ammonia and phosphorus, aiding in water purification before it is returned to the river or used for irrigation.
Nature-based systems cannot entirely replace fully functional treatment plants due to the large volume of urban runoff. However, the findings are significant because they show that natural water purification systems, which do not require electricity or expensive equipment, can assist municipalities facing rising energy costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and limited technical skills.
Natural wastewater treatment helps communities utilize limited water resources more effectively. In regions affected by drought and climate change, it provides a local source of clean water that can be reused for agriculture and other needs.
The Stibeuwel River, studied by researchers, is so polluted that local residents can no longer use it. The area, once suitable for swimming in its upper reaches, has turned into a solid waste dump. The river also carries excessive levels of E. coli bacteria; its concentration exceeds 400,000 colony-forming units per 100 ml. According to South African water quality guidelines, people should not come into contact with water where E. coli levels are above 130 units per 100 ml.
The water also contains high levels of ammonia and phosphorus from household cleaning products, which can trigger massive algal blooms. These algae turn lakes and slow-moving rivers green and deprive them of oxygen. Additionally, microplastics and traces of pharmaceuticals have been detected. The result is a slow but steady decline in water quality, increased municipal costs for treatment, and growing pressure on already scarce freshwater reserves.
Water contaminated with sewage is typically treated using energy-intensive methods, including chemical disinfection. However, the large biofiltration system constructed by the researchers does not require this. Water is pumped from the Stibeuwel River into a 10,000-liter reservoir and then fed into two holding tanks that supply the biofilter—the natural filtration system.
The design used in the project mimics the natural process of water purification found in healthy wetlands. The study showed that this system:
Approximately 50,000 liters of contaminated water are cleaned daily. About 3,000 liters per day are used to irrigate vegetable gardens managed by young women from the informal settlement. These gardens provide opportunities for skill development, food production experience, and small business creation. The remaining water is discharged back into the river, which plays a vital role as clean water sustains the life of river ecosystems and vegetation, which in turn purify the water flowing downstream.
Water Hub demonstrates how wastewater can be treated and reused near its source, rather than relying on large centralized treatment facilities. This localized approach can be replicated in other communities. Decentralizing water treatment facilitates improved water quality in areas where municipal services are declining.
Creating such a natural system is relatively inexpensive. Maintenance costs and the skills required for basic operation are minimal. Nevertheless, the system requires personnel for regular water quality monitoring and adjustments when necessary, such as slowing or speeding up water flow or responding to changes in weather or pollution levels.
The research indicates that combining science, engineering, and community involvement can lead to the creation of productive assets capable of supporting food production, generating income, and strengthening water security. It also demonstrates how decentralized water infrastructure can simultaneously support livelihoods, showing that wastewater should no longer be viewed merely as waste, but as a valuable resource that needs restoration and reuse. In African countries, where clean and safe water is becoming one of the most precious resources, learning to work with nature, rather than against it, may prove to be one of the wisest investments.
}, 3.President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a report on efforts to ensure stable energy supplies in the regions, based on experience gained within the framework of the 'Yangiyul' program. After reviewing this report, he ordered the dissemination of this approach to all districts of the country, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
Previously, the task was set to create a pilot model in 14 districts, one in each region. This work was carried out at the mahalla level, where specialists assessed the state of energy infrastructure, identified existing problems, and took targeted measures directly on site.
During this work, 916 mahallas, 832,000 households, 49,000 enterprises, and over 2,200 social facilities were surveyed. An energy passport and a balance of energy resource demand were prepared for each mahalla. This allowed for the first time to calculate the gap between actual energy needs and available capacity at the mahalla level.
It was found that 265 mahallas have an electricity deficit of 60 MW, and 42 mahallas face a shortage of natural gas amounting to 47 million cubic meters per year. At the same time, 207 mahallas have surplus capacity. According to these calculations, this approach allows for the timely determination of future energy resource needs and the preparation of necessary infrastructure.
Within the 14 pilot districts, the need was identified to repair 5,695 transformers, 6,900 km of power lines, and 242 km of gas networks, as well as 404 gas distribution points. Work to improve their technical condition and transition them to the 'green' category has already begun. To date, 441 transformers, 1,134 km of power lines, and 88 km of gas networks, as well as 92 gas distribution points have been repaired. Additionally, some facilities whose construction began in previous years under investment programs but remained unfinished have been put into operation.
According to forecasts, the demand for energy resources in these districts will increase by 49% over the next five years. Therefore, a five-year program has been developed that takes into account prospective projects and ensures reliable energy supply for the population and businesses. This program provides for the replacement of 2,261 transformers and 7,449 km of power lines in 721 mahallas, as well as the replacement of 313 gas distribution points and 327 km of gas networks in 200 mahallas. The implementation of these measures is expected to create an additional transmission capacity of 1,300 MW.
The level of energy consumption in social facilities was also studied. The analysis covered 1,938 facilities, of which 226 with low efficiency ratings were classified as 'red'. A program has been developed to transition these facilities to energy-efficient systems, and its implementation has already begun. According to calculations, these measures will allow for annual savings of 4.3 million kWh of electricity and 2.1 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Mirziyoyev instructed officials not to limit themselves to the approach tested in 14 districts, but to expand it to all districts of the republic. In each region, the work must be organized at the mahalla level, an energy passport and consumption balances must be prepared, a targeted assessment of the state of the networks must be conducted, and identified problems must be solved in stages. The main goal is to transition from fixing energy problems after they occur to proactively identifying them, planning necessary measures, and preventing possible failures.
Measures to accelerate the transfer of regional electrical grid projects of the Samarkand region to foreign investors for the management and construction of the 'Surkhan–Pul-i-Humri' high-voltage line were also discussed at the meeting.
