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National Marine Fisheries Census 2024

The census operation started off on 16th April 2024 as planned after a couple of days of enumerator training preceding it at all the nine states and two  UTs. Operational modalities were laid in a very meticulous way so as to reach the remotest of the villages in time and the entire scientific and administrative machinery of CMFRI and its sub stations were fully involved in making this exercise successful and trouble free. The reports reaching the headquarters from various state supervisors indicate that there has been a marginal to moderate spurt in the number of households to the tune of 15% with most of the villages covered in 2024 being again covered this time too. It was also gathered that the participation of the fisherfolk was more voluntary than the last time with the importance of this operation being well driven. The migratory pattern in the East coast especially in the North East region was well noticed so much so that a couple of villages were found to be temporarily emptied by fishermen from neighbouring states. The issues pertaining to the local setup of governance when it comes to various settlements and hamlets was also came under focus. Overall the participation of the fishermen families was more than enthusiastic and the help rendered by the local heads of Panchayats and other state government officials was laudable. There were reports of curiosity and satisfaction amongst fishers while being asked about their opinion on various issues pertaining to fishery , its present status and future possibilities. In all this was yet another successful operation put into effect by the CMFRI towards a national cause.

The data will be analyzed by the scientists of CMFRI to develop a comprehensive Census Database which will be helpful in facilitating formulation of fisheries related plans and policies in the marine sector. The final report of the Census will be submitted to the DAHD&F, Ministry of Agriculture in March 2024.

Marine ornamental fish for sale

Marine ornamental fish (Amphiprion ocellaris) 1" size is available in CMFRI hatchery, Kochi for sale. Interested parties may contact the Nodal Officer, ICAR Mega Seed Project, CMFRI, Kochi. Contact No. 09895567454.

Fishermen adopts small scale cage culture (CAPTURE BASED AQUACULTURE) at Uppunda, Byndoor, Karnataka: A success story

 Close view of artisanal cages used for cage culture

Introduction:

The importance and popularity of farming food fishes is increasing rapidly in coastal States of India. Capture based aquaculture (CBA), wherein the juveniles of wild fishes caught are reared to marketable sizes in captivity, is being practiced throughout the world using marine and freshwater fish species of economic importance.

Background:

Estuarine and coastal waters of Karnataka is known for the abundance of finfish seeds of mullets, sand whiting, pearlspot, milkfish, Indian terapon, butterfish and flatfishes. During June- September, juveniles of a number of cultivable species of finfishes like Lutjanus spp. Gerres spp., Etroplusspp. are caught in the seines, castnets and gillnets operated along the coast. Usually these juveniles are discarded or are sold at a low price. An attempt was made to popularize the concept of capture based aquaculture by judiciously utilizing these seed resources.

Fishermen group:

The fishermen society ‘Sampradayaka Meenugara Sangha, Byndoor Valaya’ of Upunda village located at Byndoor participated with the researchers from CMFRI, Mangalore. It has been observed that, attitude change appears to be more readily achieved when individuals are in groups. Further, group decisions are more likely to be accepted by the individual farmer if he participates in the decision making process. Thus, group dynamics has been effectively utilized in the transfer of technology to the end users.

Capture Based Aquaculture:

Stocking: The concept of CBA was introduced in this village by collection of Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Etroplus suratensis and Lates calcarifer fingerlings and stocking in floating cages of 2.5 m x 2.5 m x 2 m, made of Netlon (mesh of 30 mm) lined with nylon net. It was envisaged to use local seeds for culture, in addition to assure good production seeds for Lates calcarifer was supplemented by CMFRI. The netlon cages was designed and fabricated by CMFRI with the participation of local fishermen. Five cages were provided to the fishermen for stocking the fingerlings.

Husbandry: The red snapper and pearlspot fingerlings were continuously stocked by fishermen and the fishermen community was engaged in the cage setting, cage cleaning, feed sourcing, feed preparation and feeding.  Feeding was done with locally available trash fish and also fish waste from fish processing areas/plants.  

Production and Harvest: Altogether five cages were installed and three of the cages were partially harvested as and when the fishes were grown to marketable  size, to meet day to day needs of the fishermen. Two cages were spared for final  harvest to demonstrate total production possible from these cages.

 Theses cages were harvested during July, 2024, when the mechanized fishing is banned. The Lutjanus sps attained an average weight of 755 ± 415g ranging from 105 to 1,914g. The pearlspot ranged from 37-222 g (96 ± 35g). About 255 numbers of seabass of average weight 1819 ± 540g was harvested. The total production from the cages including seabass, red snapper and pearlspot was around ~400 kg realizing a farm gateprice of ~Rs75,000 per cage.

Harvest in progress

Close view of harvested  Redsnapper ( Lutjanus argentimaculatus )

The fishermen view this as an alternative source of fish when adverse climatic conditions prevent them from venturing into the sea. This concept could be popularized along the coast of Karnataka and sustainable use of the finfish resources to augment the fish production could be done. Demonstration of this methodology encouraged the fishermen to install cages of similar type in the estuary and at present many cages stocked with fingerlings of L. argentimaculatus, E. suratensis and L. calcarifer are found in the village. Thus this concept of CBA was adopted by the fishermen and the diffusion of the technology in this village has been phenomenal. This is because, this technology has imbibed all the attributes of an innovation namely relative advantage, compatibility, simplicity, trialability and observability. The innovation-decision process has undergone the stages of knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation before reaching the final adoption stage. In the normal bell shaped adoption curve, the technology has been adopted by the first category of dopters namely the innovators. Similar cages are also installed in Kundapura estuary and the small size fishes which are otherwise discarded are grown into marketable size in these cages. This concept could be popularized along the coastal Karnataka and sustainable use of the finfish resources to augment the fish production could be done. The popularization and adoption of the concept of CBA by the fishermen would generate alternate livelihood, income and contribute to fish production of the region. The persistent efforts to bring forth a selective contact change on the part of the researchers and extension system of the centre is expected to bring about a major social change among the coastal fisher folk of this village.

Full view of harvested  Redsnapper ( Lutjanus argentimaculatus )

Mangalore RC of CMFRI 

CMFRI achieves yet another success in the finfish breeding first time in India. Pompano (Trachynotus blochii) at CMFRI, Mandapam

Among the many high value marine tropical finfish that could be farmed in India, the silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii is one of the topmost, mainly due to its fast growth rate and high market demand.  It is well understood that for commercialisation of aquaculture of any species, the vital requirement is the availability of technology for seed production and farming. Eventhough the seed production technology and the potential of farming of Florida pompano (T.carolinus) has been well established in the late 1990s, India is a late beginner in the aquaculture research of pompano. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has initiated aquaculture research on pompano from 2024 and the first successful broodstock development, induced breeding and larval production is now successfully accomplished. It can be considered as a milestone towards the development of pompano aquaculture in the country.

            Silver pompano is caught only sporadically in the commercial fishery and hence its natural availability in the sea is rather scarce. It is a much sought after species and hence the demand can be met only through aquaculture. The farming of pompano can be successfully carried out in ponds, tanks and floating sea cages. The species is able to acclimatise and grow well even at a lower salinity of about 10ppt and hence it is suited for farming in the vast low saline and brackish waters of our country besides its potential for sea cage farming.

            It is evident that any aquaculture venture can be populariued only if proper technology is available and the practise is of high commercial value. If the technology for pompano is standardised, the second aspect is already met as per the international market details available for Florida pompano. The dockside price for Florida pompano averaged to $ 8 per kg from 1994 to 2024. In the Indian domestic market the current price of pompano is about Rs.200/-per kg.

             The present success in the pompano breeding at CMFRI, Mandapam is a major step in the development of seed production technology. However, standardization of commercial level seed production technology is the next urgent step. Hence investment on infrastructure for broodstock development and state of the art hatchery should be given topmost priority. It is felt that pompano is a potential mariculture giant which has vast domestic and global business prospects.

The Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) was bred for the first time in India at CMFRI, Mandapam Centre during February, 2024. Their F₁ generation have reached a size of 10-15 Kg at Mandapam and Karwar. Now the F₁ generation has also reached maturation state both in male and female. One of the males spawned and fertilized the eggs of females collected from wild at CMFRI, Mandapam. The larval rearing is in progress.

CMFRI honoured with Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar

On the Occasion of  Hindi day on 14^th September, 2024 the Honourable President  of  India Smt. Prathibha Devi Singh Patil  awarded the Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar, II prize to CMFRI for the excellent Hindi implementation activities under the category of Boards / Autonomous Bodies / Societies etc in Region ‘C’ for the year 2024 – 2024 in the programme organized at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Shri P. Chitambaram, Home Minister presided over the function. Shri Mullappalli Ramachandran and Shri Jitendra Singh, Ministers of State for Home Affairs graced the occasion.

On behalf of the Institute Smt. Sheela P.J. Assistant Director (OL), received the award.

The 9th Indian Fisheries Forum (9th iff)
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