Dr J. K. Jena, DDG, ICAR chairs review meeting of AINP-Mariculture at ICAR-CMFRI
Dr J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR, chaired the review meeting of the All-India Network Project on Mariculture (AINP-Mariculture) at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Kochi on 19th August 2026.
The progress, achievements and impact of the project were reviewed.
The meeting reviewed major advances made in mariculture research and technology development, including marine cage farming, seaweed cultivation, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, seed production and farmer-oriented technology demonstrations.
The review highlighted the project’s efforts to take mariculture technologies to farmers through field demonstrations across 10 States and Union Territories benefiting coastal families.
The meeting also noted the project’s research and innovation outputs, including the introduction of five new fish species for farming, submission of 21 technologies for ICAR technology certification and 11 patent applications.
Dr J K Jena emphasised the growing potential of mariculture to support coastal livelihoods, entrepreneurship and India’s blue economy, while noting the need for a comprehensive operational policy and regulatory framework for the sector.
Dr Grinson George, Director, ICAR-CMFRI and scientists involved in the project were present at the meeting.
Later, DDG addressed an interactive meeting with the staff of ICAR-CMFRI, ICAR-CIFT, ICAR-NBFGR and ICAR-CIFRI, engaging with scientists and staff on research, institutional priorities and the way forward. Dr Grinson George, Director, ICAR-CMFRI, Dr George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT and Dr J Jaysankar, Head of the Division, ICAR-CMFRI were present on the occasion.
