ICAR-CMFRI develops nutraceutical to boost immunity related to post-COVID complications
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying unveils ICAR CMFRIs study on Marine Fish Stock Status of India 2022
Shri Parshottam Rupala, Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has unveiled a remarkable study report by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) on 31st August 2023 during the ‘Sagar Parikrama phase VIII at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.The report titled ‘Marine Fish Stock Status of India 2022’ reveals that India’s marine fish stock is healthy and sustainable. According to the study, a resounding 91.1% of the 135 fish stocks assessed in 2022 were deemed healthy, marking a significant milestone in India's efforts to maintain the sustainability of its marine fisheries. The report also highlighted the substantial reduction in unsustainable practices, with just 4.4% of the stocks facing overfishing.These findings are poised to substantiate India's position at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and are anticipated to have a favourable impact on the country's stance in international trade negotiations. This report is also expected to be a game-changer in India’s seafood exports as sustainability has emerged as a key criterion in the global seafood trade. Minister Shri. Rupala also released ICAR-CMFRI’s special publication titled ‘Good Management Practices in Seaweed Farming’ on the occasion. ICAR-CMFRI has identified 333 prospective seaweed farming sites covering 23,950 hectares, aimed at horizontal expansion of seaweed cultivation. India has a seaweed production potential of 9.88 million t wet weight per year while the current production stands at merely 52,107 t wet weight per year. Seaweed farming has the potential to provide revenue up to Rs. 13.28 lakhs per hectare in a year on a dry weight basis.
On the previous day, 30th August 2023, Union Minister Shri. Prashottam Rupala visited the Vizhinjam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, Vizhinjam, Kerala. Addressing the gathering at the Centre, the Minister emphasised that offshore cage farming is the immediate focus of the country using bigger cages. “Cage fish farming is to be expanded to the offshore waters with better cage designs having a size of 30 diameters or above that can accommodate lakhs of juveniles”, Shri Rupala said. He added that ICAR-CMFRI should spearhead research and development efforts in creating these advanced cages. The Minister also urged ICAR-CMFRI to expand seed production technologies for finfishes to all the coastal states utilising the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. Shri Parshottam Rupala also underscored the untapped potential of Pearl Oyster production, urging ICAR-CMFRI to take a proactive role in scaling up its production in a bigger way. Dr L Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Shri. V Muraleedharan, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs accompanied Shri Parshottam Rupala.
Shri. Abhilaksh Likhi IAS, Secretary, to the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India also visited the Vizhinjam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI on 31st August 2023. He said that the Central Government is keen on developing bivalve farming, including mussels, edible oysters, pearl oysters and clams in the country under its PMMSY scheme. He appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CMFRI and its Vizhinjam Centre, which has been at the forefront of providing training to the fish farmers of Kerala in ornamental fish culture and cage culture.
Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying visits Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR CMFRI
As part of the ‘Sagar Parikrama- Phase-VIII’, Shri Parshottom Rupala, Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying, Govt. of India and Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Union Minister of
State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India
visited the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) on 02nd September, 2023. An exhibition was
arranged to showcase the activities of the Centre. Important marine fish
resources of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar region, seaweed farming, IMTA,
hatchery-produced cobia, silver pompano and marine ornamental fishes were
displayed in the exhibition. The Union Minister Shri. Rupala appreciated the
efforts taken for marine fisheries and mariculture development of the region.
Later the Union Minister interacted with the seaweed farming fisher women group
and addressed their queries. Planting of endemic mangrove Pemphis acidula
was also carried out on this occasion.
Smt. Neetu Kumari Prasad, IAS, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Govt. of India, Shri. Jubin Mohapatra, IAS, Assistant Secretary, Smt. Meera, IAS, Assistant Secretary, Dr. L. Narasimha Murthy, Chief Executive I/c & Senior Executive Director, NFDB, Dr. Sanjay Pandey, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries along with the other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Dr. K. Vinod, Head along with scientists explained the activities of the Centre to the dignitaries. The event was coordinated by the Fisheries & Fishermen Welfare Department, Ramanathapuram in association with the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI.