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ICAR-CMFRI Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan receives VASVIK Industrial Research Award

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has won the prestigious VASVIK (Vividhlaxi Audyogik Samshodhan Vikas Kendra) Industrial Research Award for the year 2020 in the category of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs. 1.51 lakh and citation, is in recognition of his significant contribution towards the research works related to fish genetics which is relevant for conserving many commercially important and endangered species. The VASVIK research award is presented to scientists and researchers who have excelled in various fields including agricultural sciences.

His research works include the Genetic Stock Identification (GSI), species inventory, taxonomy, breeding and seed production of threatened and commercially important species for mariculture which has helped in improving scientific knowledge on Indian fishery and the conservative measures. The award committee observed that Dr Gopalakrishnan’s genetic studies conducted and the technologies developed have served to produce molecular markers for many endangered fishes which is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Broodstock development techniques and mariculture technologies formulated and standardised by him have helped in the economic upliftment of the society by providing alternate livelihoods.  Apart from Agricultural Sciences and Technology, The VASVIK research award is given in eight categories every year. 

Inspection of Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Official Language held for Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI

Inspection of Second Sub-Committee of Committee of Parliament on Official Language was conducted for the ICAR – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre along with Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Madurai; Airport Authority of India, Madurai; General Managers Office, BSNL, Madurai; CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi; DRM Office, Railways, Madurai, on 20th May, 2022 in Madurai. The inspection committee comprised of Prof. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, MP (Lok Sabha), Convener, Smt. Ranjanben Bhatt, MP (Lok Sabha), Member, Shri Manoj Kumar, Hindi Officer, Shri Mohammed Arif, Committee Reporter and Shri Anil Kumar, Committee Assistant.  

Dr. Pravin Puthra, Assistant Director General (Marine Fisheries), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, Smt. Seema Chopra, Director (OL), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. G. Tamilmani, Sr.Scientist & Head-in-Charge, ICAR-CMFRI, Mandapam, Shri Hareesh Nair, Chief Administrative Officer, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, Smt. E.K. Uma, Chief Technical Officer, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, & Smt. Priya K.M., Senior Technical  Assistant (Hindi Translator), ICAR-CMFRI, Mandapam represented the ICAR-CMFRI. The official language implementation activities of ICAR-CMFRI, Mandapam were explained to the committee during the inspection.A video depicting the activities of the Centre was screened during the inspection. The Committee appreciated the efforts and activities undertaken on Official Language by the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI.

Harvest of IMTA cages at Harwada, Uttara Kannada under All India Network Project on Mariculture

In an event much to the jubilation of the fishermen community in Uttara Kannada, a harvest festival was held at Harwada on 13^th May 2022. A total of 300 kg of seabass, 100 kg of pompano and 150 kg of green mussels were harvested from Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) demonstration cages under the All India Network Project- AINP(M) at Harwada, Uttara Kannada. Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) inaugurated the harvest after 135 days of culture.

Shri Vigneswara Prasanna, a self-help group of fishermen, carried out the IMTA in two 6 m diameter galvanised iron marine cages at Harwada, Uttara Kannada under the technical guidance of Karwar Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI. These cages were stocked with seabass (Lates calcarifer) and silver pompano (Trachinotus blochii) for farming. Seeded ropes of green mussels were also tied on the outer frame of these two marine cages for IMTA demonstration. Due to unfavourable weather forecast the farmers were forced to go for an early harvest of fishes.