“There is a need for human beings to be more prudent in optimising the use of natural resources,” the veteran scientist said, adding that the decline of marine biological resources due to unabated pollution was only aggravated by climate change.

Around 500 delegates from different parts of India and abroad have descended in the capital for Ecosystem Conservation, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ECOCASD 2013). The conference, which was held for the first time in 2011 in Ethiopia, has been organised at the KU’s Dept of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries jointly with the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Govt of Kerala, and Ambo University, Ethiopia. “It has been decided to hold ECOCASD every two years with the next one slated to be held in Philippines in 2015,” said P Natarajan, professor, Ambo University, Ethiopia, while setting the theme of the conference. “Such a conference takes relevance today with the pressing environmental challenges posed by factors such as the increasing population on decreasing resources, degraded ecosystems, extensive need for sustainable food production etc,” he said. Foreign dignitaries, well known in their respective fields, such as Daniel Pauly, University of British Columbia; Jorg Freyhof, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Germany and William Daniels, Auburn University, USA were also present at the inaugural function. Claude E Boyd inaugurated the conference, being held at Kottackattu Convention Centre, Nalanchira. The outcome of the three-day deliberations would add to setting stable ways to the idea of conservation and sustainable development, according to organising Secretary of the event, A Biju Kumar.