To Promote Mariculture and Sea Cage Farming

With the view of increasing marine fish production and also upgrading the living standards of fishermen, there is need for the effective implementation of various technologies developed by the Institute Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Tamil Nadu

Shri. Radha Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare visited the Mandapam Regional Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Tamil Nadu. While interacting with the scientists, he stressed the need for the effective implementation of various technologies developed by the institute time to time.

Referring to the concept of increasing marine fish production of the country as well as upgrading the living standards of fishermen, the minister said that government will give major thrust to promote mariculture and sea cage farming activities in India.   

He expressed his willingness to have a coordinated effort to double farmers’ income through integrated approach and added that scientists should work hand in hand with the field level beneficiaries to attain the goal.

Shri Singh also felt the need for organizing hands-on-training on marine ornamental fish keeping and rearing to the self-help groups from coastal districts of maritime States.In addition, seaweed farming and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) which are highly prospective should be popularized, he said.

The minister reviewed the progress of research and development activities being carried out by the CMFRI Centre.

The minister also visited various facilities of the Centre viz., marine finfish hatchery complex, national marine brood bank and sea cage farm. During the visit, he had an interaction with the fishermen self help groups involved in sea cage farming and distributed seeds of silver pompano and cobia for sea cage farming.

Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI explained the achievements and progress made by the institute in promoting mariculture as an alternative livelihood option for the fisher-folk.

The meeting was also attended by Dr J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR;Smt. I. Rani Kumudini, IAS, Chief Executive, NFDB, Hyderabad;Dr. Paul Pandian, Fishery Development Commissioner, DAHDF, New Delhi;Shri. S. Natarajan, IAS, District Collector, Ramanathapuram and Dr. G.S. Sameeran, IAS, Director of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.