As you know, the inaugural session of this 4-day Workshop held on 9th Feb. in this place had become quite an eventful following some excitement among a section of the participants. But then afterwards the sessions of the Workshop were conducted in a cordial atmosphere. It is just like a marriage ceremony where a few lapses here and there or some verbal duels might trigger off a disturbance in the whole environment for the moment. But ultimately the peace returns and both parties interact cordially with each other. Our Workshop was like a marriage ceremony from another angle, i.e. we wanted a marriage between consideration for maximum exploitation of resources, on one hand, and sustainability of the resource base on the other.

Every body has realized that following the Inaugural Session the discussions and deliberations of the Workshop were very much free, open and cordial. A scientist friend commented some time back that the Workshop was not organized properly so as to allow scientific presentations to be made properly. I however don't agree with him. As I understand, the ultimate aim of a Workshop like this should be that every body opens up his mind freely and candidly. And that is what happened in the 1st day of the Workshop. The next two days were packed with field-level demonstration and observation programmes, in which every body had a chance to interact with the other freely and openly. Today also as you saw, the discussions have been made in a very free and cordial manner.

Today's programme is however not the end of the agenda on TED. Back in 1996 we had a Workshop on TED like this. In my opinion, we should have organized some programme on the subject in between. However, this Workshop has initiated a new process of dialogue, which is sure to continue in days to come, and out of which some better solutions might emerge to the satisfaction of all. With the new prescriptions that would so emerge, we would again go to the field for test and trial. Equipped with new experience from the field, we shall again get together to review our findings. In this process we shall definitely reach a conclusion which would be viable and sustainable.

I on my behalf and on behalf of the organizers of the Workshop, extend our heart-felt thanks to all of you, who have made this Workshop into a grand success.

Sri T.K. Behera, President
Before I conclude today's Valedictory Session, I request the members of the trawl owners associations present here to collect TEDs from our Departmental store within a day or two. With this request, I now conclude the Workshop here.