Gopalakrishnan opined that open sea cage farming method developed by CMFRI is one of the best farming models which could be effectively popularised among the fishermen community in the country. “The mariculture sector will address the ever increasing demand for the quality seafood for human consumption and, to some extent, bridge the gap between demand and supply in marine fish production as the amount of wild caught fish remaining stagnant for the years and scope for increasing prosecution from capture sector is very little,” he said. The scientist said that mariculture can be considered as one of the best alternate livelihood options for the coastal fishermen community. He said that the CMFRI, under the AINP, will focus on developing viable and farmer-friendly technologies for marine fish seed production and farming especially cage farming. “The indigenous cage farming method developed by the CMFRI for the country is well received by the farmers of various coastal districts and economically feasible. National agencies on fisheries development is promoting these activities based on the inputs given by CMFRI through various incentives like subsidies and schemes,” he said. Gopalakrishnan stressed the need for formulating a suitable mariculture policy since the lack of which is a major hindrance to the commercialisation of the marticulture practises in India. CMFRI will take steps to frame the policy. The institute will intensify the work on demarcation of potential mariculture sites along Indian coasts on a GIS platform, helping to prepare an adequate national policy for the development of mariculture activities in India,” he said. The representatives from all the maritime states presented their progress in the meeting. The meeting discussed various mariculture activities initiated for various species at various maritime states. Since the non-availability of marine finfish seed is a major challenge for mariculture, the AINP-M review meeting recommended for developing the hatchery technology for new species for farming and also conducting an extensive survey on the availability of natural seeds for cage farming and determining quotas and seasons for exploitation. The meeting was attended by scientists from all the collaborating centres located in seven maritime states of the country.
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