KOCHI: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has installed re-circulating aquaculture system (RAS) at its research centre at Vizhinjam to enhance seed production of commercially important marine fishes.
The system aids broodstock development of marine fishes by filtering water inside the fish tank and facilitating its reuse.
The RAS has been installed in a 30,000-litre tank to popularise sea-cage farming, thereby boosting commercial production of marine species.
After inaugurating the RAS, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sudarshan Bhagat said farmer-friendly technologies should be developed to popularise fish farming.
“Steps should be adopted to explore alternative methods and facilities to boost fish production, considering the crisis facing the fishery. Mariculture practices should be given due importance to increase marine fish production. Sea cage farming is one of the best alternative methods to make commercial fish production more profitable,” he said, and lauded the CMFRI for its initiatives to popularise cage-farming.
He also urged the CMFRI authorities to promote farming of ornamental fishes, oysters and molluscs by imparting training to farmers.
CMFRI director A Gopalakrishnan said use of the re-circulating aquaculture system would give a boost to the country’s mariculture sector. “Currently, the CMFRI is focusing on research in mariculture. Sea-cage farming of commercially important fish species such as silver pompano, cobia, groupers and lobsters will revitalise the blue economy.