ICAR-CMFRI National Campaign envisages prospects of seaweed farming in India @ Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

27^th July. Kochi

As a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi organised a National Campaign on “Non-conventional Aquaculture Systems” in virtual mode today.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI stated that the Institute has done georeferencing of 342 suitable farming sites for seaweed cultivation in the country sprawling over 24167 ha with a production potential of 9.7 Million Tonnes (wet weight) per year.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan said that the ICAR-CMFRI has successfully standardised the practice of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) which enables cage farming or bivalve farming along with seaweed farming in coastal waters. This technology will help popularise and boost seaweed farming across the coastal states.

Referring to its environmental benefits, Director, ICAR-CMFRI said that seaweed farming can earn carbon credits in many ways and cited the example of replacing fodder with the value-added products of the plants to reduce methane emission from cattle to great extent.

Shri Abhiram Seth, Managing Director, AquAagri Processing said that deep sea areas should be identified to increase production. Emphasising the need for a large quantity of planting material for the large-scale expansion of seaweed farming, Mr. Seth expressed an interest in collaborating with ICAR-CMFRI for commercial-level micro-propagation-based seaweed seed production.

The importance of bivalve farming, another non-conventional aquaculture practice was highlighted in the meeting.

More than 6000 women Self-Help Groups are engaging with bivalve farming under the guidance of the ICAR-CMFRI.

Dr Brien Roberts, Aquaculture Research Scientist from Australia and Arun Aloysius, Curatorial Supervisor of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo also delivered lectures at the event.  Dr P Laxmilatha, Head of Shelfish Fisheries Division of ICAR-CMFRI and Dr V V R Suresh, Head of Mariculture Division also spoke on the occasion.

Government of India is in favour of boosting seaweed production by earmarking Rs. 640 crores exclusively to promote seaweed culture with a targeted production of more than 11.2 lakh tonnes by 2025, in the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

(Source: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala)