The Maharashtra Government has sought technical support of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to start large-scale cage fish farming ventures. In a meeting at Kochi, Deepak Kesarkar, Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Home (Rural), Maharashtra, requested the authorities to provide technical guidance to launch 500 cage fish farming units in the brackish water resources of Sindhudurg, a coastal district.
CMFRI to implement a suitable cage farming model to the ecological and geographical conditions of the brackishwater resources in the Sindhudurg district according to the financial support from the Maharashtra Government. The State Minister further added, "the cage farming models being implemented by CMFRI in Pizhala in Ernakulam district and in various parts of Mangalore are highly successful. Our government is eager to emulate such models in Sindhudurg district too as a better livelihood option for the coastal people."
Leena Bansod, Jt. MD of Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Corporation, who accompanied the minister, visited the cage farming sites in Pizhala in Ernakulam district. As per the decision taken in the meeting a team from the Mariculture Division of the CMFRI will visit Sindhudurg district to assess the ecological condition and carrying capacity of the water bodies prior to the launch of cage fish farming.
CMFRI team will also select ideal spots and suitable species for the farming. It will soon submit a detailed project proposal to the Maharashtra government.
Bansod, Jt Managing Director, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Corporation, invited the farmers to share their experiences with their Maharashtra counterparts so as to encourage them to take up cage fish farming enterprises.
In addition to cage fish farming, the Maharashtra Government also wanted CMFRI to provide technical support to set up backyard hatchery units of cobia and silver pompano to boost the farming ventures.
The State also requested to help in formulating fishing regulation for Maharashtra and to provide technical support to oyster and mussel farming.
