A workshop organised by the School of Industrial Fisheries and Industrial Fisheries Students Association, Cochin University of Science and Technology, here on Monday took stock of the fisheries sector in the State, especially against the backdrop of the mid-August floods that caused massive losses to marine and inland fisheries sectors. Leela Edwin, senior scientist at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), who made a presentation on the impact of the floods, said that a team of CIFT scientists had made a rapid assessment of the fisheries sector. She said a report had been submitted to the Union government in this regard. Inland fisheries, where fishermen are less organised than in the marine sector, had suffered massive losses. Fishing equipment and implements were lost, she said. S. Sarma, MLA, who inaugurated the workshop said though financial gains from fisheries sector had considerably improved, the condition of traditional fishermen had not improved. The impact of recent natural calamities has worsened the situation. The State has to frame strategies for empowering traditional fishermen in deep-sea fishing and coastal mariculture activities. R. Sasidharan, Vice Chancellor, Cochin University of Science and Technology, presided at the inauguration. B. Madhusoodana Kurup, first Vice Chancellor, Kufos, delivered the keynote address. K. Gopakumar, former Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR, and A. K. Chaudhury, Director, CIFNET, were among those who spoke.