The Union Government of India has decided to promote cage culture to boost fisheries production and has chosen the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to undertake the task, according to CMFRI Director G. Syda Rao.
After a research review meeting here at the local branch of the CMFRI on Monday, he said cage culture, mariculture in general, was in the nascent stage in the country and we will have to traverse a long way still, but the technology is proven and we have the suitable conditions in the country.”
He said marine fisheries production in the country amounted to 4 million tonnes per annum last year and it was growing at 5 per cent per annum.
Fishing is still a profitable, remunerative activity in the country, contrary to the general impression that catches are dwindling everywhere. There may be problems in certain pockets, but on the whole production is increasing,” he said.
However, he said, it was felt necessary to undertake mariculture, as there was always a limit to capture fisheries.
He said: A scheme has been formulated to provide hundred cages to each state and also to subsidise to the extent of 40 per cent for the purchase of cage, seed and feed. With a 6-metre (diameter) cage, five tonnes of high-value fish can be cultured in 6-7 months. It can be highly profitable.”
He said that, however, a policy framework should be put in place for taking up cage culture on a large-scale and the states would have to take an active role in it.
Syda Rao said artificial reefs should also be put up along the coast to boost fisheries resources.
In Tamil Nadu, we have set up such reefs and we can do that in AP and other coastal states if they desire to do so. It was observed in Tamil Nadu that there was a five-fold increase in fisheries resources in such areas,” he said.
Referring to ornamental fish, Syda Rao said that the CMFRI had bred 15 varieties of ornamental fish, but no one is coming forward to culture them. We have the technology but there are no takers. There is great export potential for these fish. There is also domestic demand.”
He said there was a huge domestic market for many of the high-value fish and there was no need to depend on exports.
2012, The Hindu Business Line