30 August 2026, Lakshadweep
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi Field Laboratory in Kavaratti, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)-Lakshadweep jointly organised an Input Distribution Programme for Marine Ornamental Fisheries at Agatti Island today under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) initiative of ICAR-CMFRI.
The fisheries inputs were handed over to beneficiaries by Dr. Surabhi Rai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, and Dr. B. K. Behera, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad. Dr. Mohammed Koya, Fisheries Development Commissioner, Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India, and officials from ICAR-CMFRI, KVK-Lakshadweep and the Department of Fisheries, UT Administration of Lakshadweep, were also present.
This initiative aims to provide essential inputs to beneficiaries, promote sustainable marine ornamental aquaculture, entrepreneurship and diversified livelihood opportunities, while reducing dependence on wild collection and supporting conservation of Lakshadweep's valuable marine biodiversity.
As part of the TSP initiative this year, ICAR-CMFRI has also supported the establishment of a marine ornamental fish retail shop at Kavaratti for a TSP beneficiary, with support of KVK-Lakshadweep. This intervention aims to strengthen the marketing component of the ornamental fisheries value chain.
Lakshadweep, with its coral atolls, clear lagoons and exceptionally rich reef biodiversity, has considerable potential for sustainable marine ornamental fisheries. Of the 856 fish species belonging to 145 families recorded from the islands, around 280-300 species possess ornamental value, including wrasses, damselfishes, cardinalfishes, butterflyfishes, surgeonfishes, blennies, gobies and parrotfishes.
To harness this potential sustainably, ICAR-CMFRI is establishing a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)-based marine ornamental fish hatchery at Kavaratti under the NCDC funded-PMMSY Scheme. The facility comprises 48 broodstock tanks, along with live-feed culture and larval rearing facilities. Breeding technologies have been standardised and refined for three clownfish species, Amphiprion percula, A. nigripes and A. clarkii.
ICAR-CMFRI has developed captive breeding technologies for around 40 marine ornamental species, including clownfishes, damselfishes, anthias, dottybacks, gobies, firefish, designer clownfish varieties and ornamental shrimps. More than 250 local entrepreneurs, women SHGs and cooperative society members have already been trained in ornamental fish-related technologies and entrepreneurship.
(Source: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi)
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