Indian Council of Agricultural Research
CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Reading age of squids using statoliths  
  • Remotely operated vehicle observations on clam beds
  • Cuttlefish biological investigations
  • Women oyster farmers in Sattar Island with their harvest 

Home Molluscan Fisheries DIVISION

Thrust areas of research

Assessment of molluscan fisheries and shellcraft industries all along the Indian coast.
Conduct studies on the biology of major commercial molluscan resources.
Developing and commercializing mariculture technologies for molluscs.
Developing regional fisheries management plans (FMPs) for the bivalve fisheries of India
Developing value chain approach for high value bivalves and oceanic squids.

 

Ongoing Research Projects

a. In-house Projects

Development of Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for the Bivalve Fisheries of India.
Evaluation of ornamental gastropod fisheries in India and assessment of shell craft industry
Sustainable molluscan mariculture practices

b. Sponsored Projects

MoES- Commercial viability of black pearl production in the Andaman and conservation mariculture of  ETP gastropods
NAIP - Utilization strategy for the oceanic squids in the Arabian Sea: A value chain approach.
NAIP - A value chain on high value shellfishes from mariculture systems
MoEF - Mapping and resource assessment of pearl oyster beds of Tuticorin (central) division of Gulf of Mannar.

c. Consultancy Projects

GIZ, India - Assessment of eco-labelling as tool for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala ( Southwest coast of India)

Completed Projects(2007-12)

a. In-house Projects

Application of trophic modeling in marine fisheries management
Developing management advisories for sustaining marine fisheries of Andhra Pradesh

 

b. Sponsored Projects

MoES – Farming and pearl production in the black lip pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera
MPEDA – Demonstration of responsible fishing practices for the trawl fisheries of Gujarat State.
DST – Development of shallow water grow-out techniques for the venerid clam, Paphia malabarica (Chemnitz) and the corbiculid clam, Villorita cyprinoides (Grey).

c. Consultancy Projects

ADB - Project Preparatory Technical Assistance for coastal protection structures in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka

Significant Achievements in the last 5 years

Technologies/Concepts/Findings

  • Farming technologies for mussels, oysters, pearl oysters, clams.
  • Commercial mussel and oyster farming was extended to new areas in Kerala and Karnataka and the 2011 production was estimated at 12,950 tonnes.
  • Controlled breeding and spat production in Pinctada fucata, Crassostrea madrasensis, Perna viridis, Perna indica, Marcia opima, Paphia malabarica, Meretrix meretrix, Placuna placenta.
  • An automatic mussel seeder developed for seeding mussels on to ropes.
  • Several oyster and oceanic squid products developed in collaboration with NIFPHATT which were test marketed in Kochi successfully
  • Blacklip pearl oyster spat production process, farming protocols and pearl and mabe pearl production technologies
  • Depuration protocols for oysters and clams
  • Development of live oyster value chain, Depuration display unit and protocols developed for live oyster consumption in high‐end restaurants.
  • Process/protocols for steam shucking of oysters and clams (Patent application made in 2013).
  • Developed all technological know-how for the launch of the oceanic squid value chain including fishing methods, area and season of abundance, stock abundance in relation to environmental factors, MSY and plan for exploitation.
  • Determined that FAD fishing for cuttlefish is destructive to the stock and as per CMFRI advice the Government of Karnataka has banned the fishing practice.
  • Developed Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Ashtamudi Lake short-neck clam fisheries, based on which the Kollam District administration has formed the Ashtamudi Lake Clam Fisheries Governance Council (ACFGC) which is a fisheries co-management council.
  • Responsible for science back-up for MSC ecolabel for the Ashtamudi Lake short- neck clam fishery - which is the first certified fishery in the country.
  • Developed advisories (66 recommendations) for management of marine fisheries of Kerala including extension of trawl ban and new ban for ring seiners
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