Sustainable Aquaculture Practices Begins at CIAL Golf Club, Kochi

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) started aquaculture practices at the CIAL Golf Club water bodies, Kochi on June 22.

CIAL chooses fish farming in the water bodies as part of the business diversification programs that adhere to sustainability and effective use of available land.

In a joint effort with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and CIAL have partnered to establish environmentally friendly, sustainable cage farming in the water bodies of the CIAL Golf Club, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Compared to other types of livestock farming, aquaculture has various environmental advantages, said CIAL Managing Director S Suhas.

Suhas further told that the aquaculture industry has "reduced its carbon footprint over the last five years through the gradual assimilation of new production systems, which have reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced the use of freshwater per unit produced, improved feed management practices, and adopted new farming practices”. 

He also said "As champions of sustainability, CIAL works toward climate-friendly methods that produce long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Seven different-sized water bodies Totalling almost 16 acres are present in the CIAL Golf Club.

A statement said that the species recommended by MPEDA-RGCA for the pilot project include GIFT Tilapia, Seabass, and Pearl spot. MPEDA and RGCA will offer testing for periodic illness detection of fish and water quality analysis and seeds at a subsidized cost from their hatchery at Valarpadam.

The arrival of cage fish farming enables the efficient use of underutilized water bodies, earning extra revenue for the golf club through a steady supply of top-quality fish.

The idea of total sustainability management (TSM) has already been effectively implemented by CIAL at its golf club, where treated water from the airport's sewage treatment plant is used for water harvesting with the help of 12 artificial lakes.