Dikhyaa Mohanty 
At the esteemed Seafood Expo Bharat 2025 (SEB-25), which took place from July 1–3, 2025, at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) Project in Odisha was given the First Prize in the Government Sector. This honor recognizes ECRICC Odisha’s exceptional work advancing inclusive community-based development and climate-resilient aquaculture.
“It was an excellent opportunity for our last-mile cadre to represent the state on a national platform”—one of the women climate champions confidently shared her journey on stage, inspiring many.
One of the biggest gatherings for participants in the fisheries and aquaculture value chain in India is SEB-25, which is organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. With assistance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is responsible for implementing the ECRICC Project on a national level. In Odisha, the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department of the Government of Odisha is in charge of carrying out the project.
In coastal communities, the initiative encourages climate-resilient livelihoods and ecosystem-based adaptation. With the help of climate advocates and empowered local institutions, Odisha, one of the major implementing states, is leading the way in sustainable aquaculture methods, decorative fisheries, and scientific mud crab farming. In line with the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a Vikshit Bharat by 2047, this program helps the Government of Odisha fulfill its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and works toward creating a Vikshit Odisha by 2036.
ECRICC Odisha actively participated in technical workshops addressing value addition, shrimp aquaculture, seafood commerce, and other topics while showcasing its accomplishments through a dedicated stand. Visitors responded enthusiastically to the live display of pond-based mud crab farming, which was a significant draw. Multimedia displays and inspiring transformation stories, especially those led by women and underrepresented groups, were also on show at the stand, emphasizing the project’s inclusive and people-centered methodology.
