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ICAR-CMFRI commercialises its nutraceutical product from seaweeds to combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi has commercialised CadalminTM LivCure extract, a patent-protected nutraceutical product developed by the Institue from seaweeds to combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). For commercial production and marketing of the nutraceutical, ICAR-CMFRI inked a pact with with M/S. Emineotech, a private limited company dealing with health products. Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mr. Evanjalist Pathrose, Managing Director of Emineotech on 19th December 2022. The product is expected to hit the market within four months and will be made available on Amazon, Flipkart and other leading e-commerce platforms for online sale, apart from physical market networks across the country

A unique blend of 100% natural bioactive ingredients extracted from select seaweeds, the product is made of an eco-friendly green technology to improve liver health, and is the 9th nutraceutical developed by the ICAR-CMFRI.  Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Principal Scientist at the Marine Biotechnology, Fish Nutrition and Health Division of the CMFRI led the research works to develop the product.The Institute has already commercialised nutraceuticals to combat lifestyle diseases such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism and osteoporosis besides an immunity booster.ICAR-CMFRI has been receiving an overwhelming response from the public ever since the Institute developed the CadalminTM LivCure extract. Commercialisation of the product will be greatly beneficial to a large number of people suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as it helps improve liver health, reduce disposition of fatty substance and maintain other liver/lipid parameters within the clinically acceptable limits. The nutraceutical does not have any side effects as established by detailed preclinical trials. Realising the high pharmaceutical and medicinal potential of seaweeds, CMFRI launched efforts to the large-scale farming of seaweeds across the coastal states of the country.  

ICAR-ICMFRI Turns 75; Launches Year-Long Anniversary Celebration Campaign

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) turned 75 years on 3rd February 2022.  On the occasion, the institute kick-started one-year-long campaign that includes various activities to mark the platinum jubilee celebrations.Established in 1947, the ICAR-CMFRI has been playing a pivotal role in stewarding India’s marine fishery resources since its inception. Over the past seven and half decades, the CMFRI which joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1967, has grown significantly in size and stature emerging as a leading tropical marine fisheries research hub in the world. 

During the foundation day celebration, Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General of the ICAR was the chief guest. He urged the CMFRI scientists to prioritise their focus of research in accordance with the urgent need of the society and the nation. “The Central Government is focusing on strengthening mariculture based alternative livelihood options like seaweed farming, marine ornamental fish culture etc. This would offer better livelihood option to the coastal communities and thereby supporting the country’s economy”, he said.Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI said that the institute broadened its objectives by diversifying towards potentially rewarding arenas such as mariculture, genetic and biotechnological applications. Keeping tab of the changes in the sector, research on climate change and bioprospecting will also be strengthened, he said.

Elaborating on the future plan of the institute, Dr Gopalakrishnan further said: “Given that mariculture is going to be a game changer in ensuring future fish production and also in providing income and employment security for coastal fishers, the ICAR-CMFRI will focus on precision mariculture with the aid of smart tools and automation with Artificial Intelligence (AI)”. Apart from this, a number of emerging areas of importance include marine environment management, marine biodiversity research, marine spatial planning, species identification and description, marine pollution research, fish disease diagnosis and control, resource monitoring and assessment, socioeconomics and so on, he added.

The logo for the year-long celebration was unveiled on the occasion. A theme song also was released.                         

ICAR-CMFRI Wins Two ICAR Awards

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has won national recognition with the institute bagging two national-level awards instituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The ICAR-CMFRI won the Best Annual Report award (2020) in the category of ICAR large institutes while Dr Anusree M, a Ph D scholar at CMFRI bagged the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for PG Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences for 2021. The annual report contains key information on the institute’s research activities and outputs in a year.  This is the second time within seven years the CMFRI’s annual report is selected as the national best.

Dr Anusree was designated for the award for her doctoral thesis on the topic ‘Characterization and Evaluation of Small Molecular Bioactives and Polysaccharides from the Phaeophytic Marine Macroalga Sargassum wightii (family Sargassaceae) as Defense Metabolites against Oxidative Stress-Induced Diseases’. Her research works involved in developing potential pharmacophores and nutraceuticals with anti-dyslipidemic, anti-diabetic, and anti-hypertensive activities from seaweeds, under the guidance of Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Principal Scientist of CMFRI. The award includes a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, citation, certificate, and a silver medal.

The ICAR- CMFRI was selected for the awards from among 114 institutes in India under the ICAR.  The institute had won the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR institutions award, the highest award of the ICAR, in 2020.

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has won the first position in the latest ranking of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in the category of Fisheries and Animal Science institutes in the country. The Institute also secured the third position in the ranking of the 93 institutes under all divisions of Crop Science, Horticultural Science, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science and Fisheries Science.  The ranking was based on research and other activities of the institutes during 2019-2021. 

Also, the CMFRI ranked the highest in the ICAR institutes headquartered in Kerala. “This achievement is seen as a recognition for collective efforts of the CMFRI family in research and development activities for the sustainable growth of the country’s marine fisheries”, said Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan. In addition, attempts to popularise mariculture activities like cage fish and seaweed farming, technology development for breeding of commercially important fishes, research initiatives to develop nutraceutical products from marine organisms, efforts for making relevant policies, studies on socio-economics of the sector and extension activities among many others have helped CMFRI to achieve this feat, he said.Kochi headquartered CMFRI has regional research centres in Veraval, Karwar, Mangalore, Kozhikode, Vizhinjam, Chennai, Tuticorin, Mandapam, Visakhapatnam and Digha.  

Sea ranching of the green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus under the Central Sector Scheme component of

'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana' (PMMSY)

ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre is regularly carrying out sea ranching of hatchery produced green tiger shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus seeds in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to replenish the natural stock and to enhance the shrimp productivity. This is helpful in promoting the livelihood of the fishermen in the region and also for conserving & maintaining a sustainable shrimp stock in the wild. Owing to its importance a project entitled "Sea ranching of Green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) Post Larvae (PL) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu" is being carried out by ICAR-CMFRI Mandapam Regional Centre with the funding support of Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India under the Central Sector Scheme component of the PMMSY. Under the project a total of 200 million Green tiger shrimp Post Larvae will be released in a period of four years (2022-2026) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar region of Tamil Nadu. The total budget of the project is Rs.168.948 lakhs.

A total of 3.2 million green tiger shrimp seeds of PL 20 were sea ranched at Manora, Thanjavur District (Palk Bay) on 27th October, 2022. The shrimp seeds were released by Shri. M. K. Muthumanickam, Panchayat Union Chairman, Sethubavachatram, Shri. Akhil Thampi, IFS, DFO, Thanjavur District, Shri. M. Sivakumar, Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fisherman Welfare, Thanjavur District, Dr. V. Balaji, OMCAR Foundation, Thanjavur District, in the presence of Dr. G. Tamilmani, Head-in-Charge & Principal Investigator of the project, Mechanized & Country Craft Associations representatives, Village Panchayat President, Sarabendrapattinam, the Officials of Department of Fisheries & Fishermen Welfare, Scientists and staff of Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI.  The fishermen thanked the Government of India and ICAR-CMFRI for such an initiative and expressed that this activity will be helpful in replenishing the green tiger shrimp stock. A total of 22.64 million green tiger shrimp seeds were sea ranched in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar since the inception of the Project (February, 2022).  The sea ranching programme was coordinated by Dr. B. Johnson, Senior Scientist and Dr. M. Sakthivel, Senior Scientist of the Centre.