ICAR Fisheries Division

FISHERIES DIVISION

The Fisheries Division of the ICAR coordinates the research, training and extension in the eight constituent Institutes, provided with specific mandates for addressing different resources

(Click on images for bigger pic)

4.India map with locations of :
i) ICAR, Delhi.  
ii)  Hdqr. of eight institutes.
iii)  12 Fisheries Colleges3 KVKs and 2 TTCs

The Fisheries Division also maintains close linkages with the Fisheries Colleges of the State Agricultural Universities and the Central Agricultural University, with regard to degree programmes, specializations, syllabi and course curricula, faculty, network programmes, etc.

The Goal

Sustainable growth of Indian fisheries and aquaculture by interfacing research, education and extension initiating complanused with effective institutional, infrastructural and policy support resulting in a proper fit between the human needs and the habitat, with an important role in global fisheries. 

Thrust Areas 

Monitoring of exploited and marine fish stock and forecasting with due attention to marine biodiversity management and sustainability;  Fish production in reservoirs, rivers, canals and other inland open waters; Hill fishery resources assessment and management, GIS based inventory of aquatic resources and their  degradation levels for water management in fisheries and aquaculture; ICZM, EIA and EMP in fisheries and aquaculture;  Ranching of selected species in open waters; Intensification and diversification of aquaculture practices; Integrated fish farming; Inland saline aquaculture; Ornamental fisheries; Fish feed manufacture and dispensing systems; Comprehensive fish health management; Genetic improvement of selected commercial fish and prawn; Exotics and quarantine systems; Value added products; GMP and HACCP for different products, food safety and risk assessment; HRD to meet the above diverse and specialized aspects.

Achievements 

·        Annual fish production of 6 mmt with India, with fourth position in global fish production and second in aquaculture.

·        Annual per capita fish availability of 9 kg and export earnings of Rs 6,000 crores.

·        Fish contributing 1.4% of GDP, 4.5% of agricultural GDP and 2.3% of agricultural courses.

·        Stock assessment of 50 commercially important fish species and measures for sustainable fishing.

·        Design and fabrication of intermediate crafts and fishing gears for coastal fisheries.

·        Reservoir and floodplain fisheries management.

·        Indian carp polyculture and integrated fish farming.

·        Shrimp and prawn farming technologies.

·        Pearl farming and Seabass culture.

·        Mahseer and trout farming.

·        Fish and shellfish feed formulation.

·        Fish genetic resources cataloguing and Germplasm conservation.

·        Release of improved rohu ( Jayanti), Labeo rohita.

·        Fish disease diagnostics and control measures.

·        Wastewater treatment through aquaculture.

·        Value addition and quality management of their products.

·        HRD in fisheries for serving diverse needs of the sector.

Service to North-east India 

·        Ecology and fisheries management of Loktak lake, Manipur.

·        Carp culture in Tripura, Assam.

·        Integrated farming in Dinapur, Nagaland.

·        Inventory of ornamental  fisheries in the north-east.

·        Pen culture in beels of Assam.

·        Mahseer breeding  and culture in Arunachal Pradesh.

·        Training programmes and HRD in aquaculture. 

Women in fisheries 

·        Aquaculture in Orissa.

·        Mariculture in Kerala.

·        Value-added products in Maharashtra (Matsyagandha)

AP CESS FUND SCHEMES 

In line with the provisions of the ICAR of AP Cess Fund Schemes, the Fisheries Division provides financial support to a large number of research projects across the country addressing specific problems in different areas such Resource Assessment & Management (Aquatic biodiversity conservation & management, Population dynamics, Fish behaviour and hydrodynamics, Responsible Fishing, Productivity management, Stock assessment & yield models); Aquaculture (Engineering (farms & hatcheries, machineries, cage designing, water budgeting, etc.), Captive broodstock development & Breeding, Sustainable aquaculture, Fish and Shellfish Feed Technology (including anti-nutritional factors), Disease diagnostics & fish health management (SPF Stocks, edible vaccines, etc.), Innovative aquaculture (cage culture, recirculatory systems, ornamental fish/plants, etc.), Open sea farming (Mariculture), Domestication of non-conventional species, Physiology and molecular endocrinology);  Fish Genetics And Biotechnology (Genetic characterization and stock improvement, Recombinant DNA technology, Isolation, characterization and synthesis of biomolecules, Bio-informatics and Interactive softwares, Quarantine standards & systems, Tissue culture and fish cell lines); Fishery  Microbiology & Biochemistry (Aquatic and environmental microbiology, Probiotics and biofertilizers, Bioactive compounds from aquatic resources for industrial & pharmaceutical use, Enzymes, proteins and lipids); Aquatic Environment and Socio-economics (Environmental  Impact Assessment, Catchment interaction and Nutrient dynamics, Eco-modeling, Pollution control and waste management, Coastal Zone Management, Socio-economics and impact assessment, Economics of production systems, Fisheries regulations, Trade related Issues); Fish Harvesting Technology ( Craft & Gear designs and improvement. Fuel efficiency in fishing operation, Gear for turbulent inland waters, Fish Aggregating  Devices (F A D), Selective Fishing Devices ); and Post- harvest Fish Technology (Assessment and prevention of post-harvest losses, Handling and transportation, Packaging, Product development, diversification and value addition, Fish spoilage, Fish waste utilization, Quality control and Hygiene regulations (SPS measures, etc.) 

The Division is also a focal point for FISHNET, National networks in different disciplines of fisheries and aquaculture, bringing together researchers in different organizations to address national priorities in the sector.  It serves as a nodal Centre for policy issues, national and international collaborative programmes, organizing inter             disciplinary and inter institutional programmes for achieving synergy in R&D efforts for providing “Fish for All Forever”.