Suresh Prabhu To Launch Multi-Species Aquaculture Complex Today

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) will set up a Multi-Species Aquaculture Complex facility today at Vallarpadam Island near Kochi.

Interestingly, Commerce Minister, Suresh Prabhu will inaugurate this Multi-Species Aquaculture Complex which is spread over nine acres at a cost of 7.26-crore facility has hatcheries and nurseries for marine, brackish water and freshwater fish and will cater to the demand from aquaculture farmers in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

According to the official release, the project is expected to cater to the demands from aquaculture farmers in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

The fish reared in the complex have both domestic and export market. The nurseries meant for diversified fish/shellfish species and ponds are lined with high density polythene and necessary bio-security protocols.

The complex has a hatchery for black tiger shrimp with an annual production capacity of 20 million shrimp seeds. It has nurseries for four varieties of fin fishes including sea bass, GIFT (genetically-improved farmed tilapia), silver pompano and cobia having capacity to produce 16.5 lakh fingerlings per year and a nursery with a capacity of 0.5 lakh crablets of mud crab.

The hatchery for Black Tiger shrimp has a quarantine facility and an effluent treatment system making it a bio-secure hatchery.

One added advantage of the complex is that it is close to the international airport which will ensure faster transportation of seeds.