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Dedication of Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) for

Nursery Rearing of Marine Finfishes to the Nation

and

Inaugurating “Indian Pompano” Farmers Training Hostel at Visakhapatnam

Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) is a culture system for rearing marine finfish in controlled conditions with minimum use of water and efficient management practices. Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI dedicated the indigenously developed RAS for nursery rearing of finfishes to the nation at Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI on 20.03.2023. This RAS system was fully developed and standardized at Visakhapatnam RC of ICAR-CMFRI and is economical for Indian mariculture as it can produce a fish seed of 12 gm at only Rs. 11.20. Earlier an RAS system had been developed at the Centre for broodstock development and breeding while recirculating the water used, thereby minimizing wastage of this precious resource. However, this is the first time that an RAS has been indigenously developed and standardized for rearing fish seed of average 0.5 gm size. Dr. A Gopalakrishnan opined that this is a seminal breakthrough in mariculture research in the country and will pave the way for entrepreneurs to invest in this sector. Moreover with the training programs being given by Visakhapatnam RC of ICAR-CMFRI on nursery rearing of Indian pompano in RAS to fish farmers, students and entrepreneurs, the same shall ensure that skilled manpower is available in future for scaling up production.

The Director also inaugurated the newly constructed Farmers Training Hostel “Indian Pompano” of Visakhapatnam RC of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The training hostel hosts four A/C double rooms, along with dormitory facilities for future trainees of the Centre. While elaborating on the name “Indian Pompano” Dr. A Gopalakrishnan said that Visakhapatnam RC of ICAR-CMFRI was the pioneering centre globally with respect to Indian pompano breeding, seed production, larval rearing and culture; and hence the name was an obvious choice. Indian pompano is a popular marine fish, similar to pomfret which can be grown in sea cages successfully. The species has been at the forefront of spearheading the mariculture revolution in the country with increasing number of fish farmers opting this species for both pond and cage farming.During the program, the Director also released publications of Visakhapatnam RC including a centre profile and two products Cadalmin Nann Con and ICAR-CMFRI Marine Microbial Consortium (MMC). Cadalmin Nann Con is an indigenous, packaged concentrate of Nannochloropsis oculata which is a critical feed for rotifers which are indispensable in finfish hatcheries as live feed for larvae. This product has a shelf life of 5 months and can be reconstituted as required. The other product, ICAR-CMFRI MMC is an indigenously developed multi-strain probiotic supplement for marine finfish in nursery and grow-out culture systems. Due to its high anti-bacterial activity, it helps in improving growth, survival and gut health in marine cultured fish.Three MoUs were also signed on the occasion; the first with MSR Aqua Pvt. Ltd. for broodstock development and seed production technology for Indian pompano. The second MoU was signed with Ms. Revathi Bandaru for providing technical services on sea cage farming of Indian pompano and the third MoU was signed with Laya NGO for providing technical services in seaweed cultivation as a knowledge partner. Dr. J Charles Jeeva and Dr. Shubhadeep Ghosh, present and former Heads-in-charge of Visakhapatnam RC also spoke on the occasion.

   

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

A total of 4.1 million green tiger shrimp seeds (PL 25) were sea ranched at Mandapam, T Nagar (Palk Bay) on 12th April, 2023 under the Project entitled "Sea ranching of Green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) Post Larvae (PL) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu" funded by Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India under the Central Sector Scheme component of the PMMSY. The shrimp seeds were released by Shri. M. Sivakumar, Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fisherman Welfare, Mandapam, Mandapam Fishermen Association Leaders in the presence of Dr. G. Tamilmani, Head-in-Charge & Principal Investigator of the project, 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 57.64 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 of the Centre.

Awareness workshop on climate change and distribution of Climate Aid to fishermen

AnAn awareness workshop on climate change was organised by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi under its National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project on 18th April 2023. Fishermen residing in Kerala’s Chellanam and Puthuveypu villages attended the workshop.Speaking on the occasion, Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI said the Institute will set up Water Clinics in the coastal region of the state. At a time when climate change continues to fuel storm surges and resulting coastal flooding, the proposed clinics are aimed at assessing the quality of drinking water resources in coastal communities, he said.He added that the new initiative is in line with the ‘One Health’ concept that aims to achieve optimal health for the people, aquatic animals and plants, and the environment. “In continuation of the existing research project to understand the extent of pathogenic vibrio pollution in the Vembanad, the Water Clinics is expected to maintain the quality of the drinking water resources in the region, thereby preventing the spread of waterborne diseases in the community. Emulating the success model of the ‘Citizen Science’ initiative for the Vembanad research project, the participation of students will be ensured to conduct massive water quality checks in the coastal region with the support of a mobile application”, the Director said.In order to set up the Water Clinics, the CMFRI will collaborate with the Nansen Environmental Research Centre, Kochi, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the Public Health Department and other agencies.

Climate Aid to fisher families

The awareness workshop was organised by the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) research project of the CMFRI. In an effort to minimise the losses caused by climate change on the coastal communities, the CMFRI provided climate aid to 24 fisher families belonging to the SC community residing in Chellanam and Puthuveypu, on the occasion. As part of this, implements such as fishing nets, freezers, ice boxes, motor pump sets, fish seeds and feeds, etc. worth Rs. 2.5 lakhs were distributed among the fishermen under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) programme of the NICRA project of the institute.Espamma Sebstin, Chairperson of the Welfare Standing Committee of Chellanam Panchayat; Dr C Ramachandran; Dr Grinson George; Dr Ratheesh Kumar; Krishnakumar, ward member; and Dr Muhammad Shafeeque spoke on the occasion.