The Fishermen Community Development Programme (FCDP) participated in the Fifth International Kerala Studies Congress, a prominent event shaping the state’s development trajectory. Director Fr. Saji Elampasseril, representing FCDP, presented a paper titled “Climate Change and the Marine Sector – Challenges: Solutions and Recommendations,” which highlighted the increasing challenges confronting coastal communities.

The Congress, held on February 21 and 22 at the A.K.G. Study and Research Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, convened over 3,000 participants, including policymakers, researchers, administrators, economists, social leaders, and more than 300 invited experts. The 46 seminars facilitated discussions aimed at formulating a comprehensive and future-oriented development agenda for Kerala.

In his presentation, Fr. Saji Elampasseril drew upon the extensive experience of the FCDP with fishing communities to illustrate how climate change is transforming coastal life through unpredictable sea conditions, declining fish stocks, and increasing coastal erosion. He emphasised that the traditional knowledge of fishermen, developed over generations of close interaction with the sea, should inform public policy and development planning. By referencing Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, he underscored the moral responsibility to care for the environment, particularly for vulnerable communities, and advocated for a spirituality grounded in ecological responsibility. This perspective frames environmental protection not only as a matter of policy, but as an ethical and human obligation that must be integrated into broader development frameworks.

The session on Climate Change and Disaster Management was chaired by Dr Shekhar Kuriakose of the State Disaster Management Authority and inaugurated by Dr George Thomas, former Chairman of the Biodiversity Board. The panel comprised experts from environmental, academic, and policy institutions, demonstrating broad engagement in advancing climate resilience.

At the meeting, the final document resulting from the “Kadal Conclave 2026” discussions was submitted to the International Kerala Studies Congress. FCDP–TMS Director Fr. Saji Elampasseril SDB formally handed over the document to Shri M.A. Baby (General Secretary, CPI(M)), in the presence of Shri V.K. Ramachandran (Vice Chairperson, State Planning Board), Shri T.M. Thomas Isaac (Secretary, International Kerala Studies Congress and former Finance Minister), and Shri T.P. Ramakrishnan (LDF Convener).

For FCDP, the Congress served as more than a venue for presentation. It provided a platform to advocate for policies that safeguard the rights, livelihoods, and future of Kerala’s coastal communities, thereby promoting development that is inclusive, informed, and humane.