Date:27/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/27/stories/2008042759130300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Boost to fish production in country

Staff Reporter

CMFRI successfully demonstrates viability of open sea cage culture

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Reaping it rich: Fish grown in open sea cage being harvested off Visakhapatnam on Saturday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: A good beginning was made by India with the harvesting of fish through open sea cage culture for the first time off Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Determined effort

It was a red-letter day for the Central Marine Fisheries Institute of India (CMFRI) for successfully harvesting the fish after the project initially ran into rough weather as the cage was washed ashore by the waves. Undeterred, the scientists of CMFRI developed an advanced cage with a lot of modifications and re-launched it on December 11, 2007. There was excitement on board Ciftech I (CIFT Vessel) when it set on sail at the fishing harbour on its way to the sea cage located opposite the Ramakrishna Beach. It was a dream come true for Mohan Joseph Modayil, Member of ASRB, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, who came to inaugurate the harvest. The project was conceived five years ago when he was Director of CMFRI. “We selected Visakhapatnam for the project as Andhra fishermen are pioneers in aquaculture and want them to lead the rest of the country in sea cage culture also. This is only a beginning and commercial production through open sea cage culture can boost fish production and ensure high returns for farmers,” Dr. Modayil said. China, Malaysia, Thailand, Phillipines and Australia had made giant strides in sea cage culture and there was no reason why India, which had tremendous potential, should lag behind in this area, he felt.

CMFRI Director N.G.K. Pillai described it as a ‘demonstration project’ to show the viability of sea cage culture and encourage fish farmers to take up commercial production in a big way.

Capital investment

Though Asia Sea bass (locally known as ‘pandugappalu’) had been cultured in the cage, other species of greater commercial value could also be grown. Scientist in-charge of CMFRI, Visakhapatnam, G. Syda Rao said that some 1,400 fish seed were stocked in the cage on December 23. They were being fed with low-value trash fish on a daily basis. Commercial production could be taken up from June.

A one-time capital investment of Rs.15 lakhs would be required and the recurring culture operation of seven months was Rs.16 lakhs. The yield would be some 25 tonnes and the estimated revenue would be Rs.35 lakhs per crop.