KOCHI: Scientists at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have successfully developed the seed production technology of food fish, a marine ornamental fish and a marine ornamental shrimp that are commercially important and are high value species in the export market.
Claimed to be first-of-its-kind, the technology for breeding food fish ‘pink ear emperor’ (Lethrinus lentjan), locally known as yeri, ornamental fish ‘Marcia’s anthias’ and ornamental shrimp ‘camel shrimp’, has been developed by scientists at the CMFRI’s Vizhinjam Centre.
The technology was developed after two years of continuous attempts using the Recirculating Aquaculture System set up at the institute. The technology has been developed by a scientific team led by M K Anil, scientist in-charge of the Vizhinjam centre.
“The breeding technology of pink ear emperor will help the country boost the production of the species through mariculture activities like cage fish farming. At present, the open sea cage farming in the country is restricted to three or four species of marine fish. With a better growth rate and standardised breeding technology, the pink ear emperor will become popular among cage fish farmers,” said Anil.
“The technology has been standardised to scale up the species among interested farmers,” he said. The pink ear emperor has superior flesh qualities and is popular in the domestic market. It also has potential demand in global seafood markets. It can weigh up to 2 kg. It fetches Rs 400 to Rs 600 per kg in the domestic market.
Camel Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) is an ornamental shrimp that grows up to 4-5 cm and fetches $10-12 in the international market. Locally, it is sold for anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 700 per piece.
The Marcia’s anthias (Pseudanthias Marcia) is also a high value species of ornamental fish.