Officials of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AP Fisheries Department for raising sea bass and mud crab hatcheries at Suryalanka in Guntur district. A few months ago, the officials conducted joint inspection and selected the site at Suryalanka for raising hatcheries in 20 acres. Special Chief Secretary and in-charge for Fisheries Department Manmohan Singh, Commissioner (fisheries) Rama Shankar Naik, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), a research wing of MPEDA, all India Project Director S. Kandan and other officials signed the MoU at Velagapudi on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Naik said following the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to supply quality seed to aqua farmers and improve the production, the Fisheries Department officials planned to begin hatcheries and encourage the farmers in the State. MPEDA is having the best technology and raising quality and virus-free seed. The RGCA will give necessary technical support to the Fisheries Department. MPEDA Chairman A. Jayathilak is directly monitoring the project to boost aqua exports from Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Kandan told The Hindu. For the first time in India, MPEDA entered into an MoU with the State government for developing L. Vennamei Brood stock Multiplication Centre (BMC) and Aqua Quarantine Facility (AQF) in 40 acres at Bangarammapeta village in East Godavari district. Mud crab and seabass are having good demand in the international market. Farmers are investing huge amount in procuring seed from private hatcheries. Hitherto, aqua farmers are importing seed from Sirkali in Tamil Nadu. Thousands of farmers are doing mud crab culture at Bantumilli, Machilipatnam Rural, Nagayalanka and other places in East and West Godavari and Nellore districts in AP. But, farmers are suffering huge losses due to high mortality rate in transportation, said Dr. Kandan. If quality shrimp and mud crab seed is supplied within the State, farmers can lessen investment cost and achieve high yield. Besides, raising seabass, shrimp and mud crab hatcheries will create employment to many villagers, said National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) Chief Executive Officer K. Shanmukha Rao.