‘Boost cage fish farming at Sindhudurg’

Mumbai: In another move towards ‘Blue Revolution’, the state mangrove cell has proposed boosting cage fish farming along the coast of Sindhudurg.

The coastal district which is reeling with brackish water will be getting around 500 cage units to increase the fish production. In this activity, dedicated ponds are developed to sustain fish production by providing favourable ecosystem.

The Maharashtra government has sought assistance from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi for the project.

Maharashtra minister of state for finance, planning and home, Deepak Kesarkar discussed the matter with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute earlier this month. As of now, the cage fishing model is carried out in Ernakulam district and parts of Mangalore by the institute. In cage-fish farming, fish cages are placed to contain and protect fish until they can be harvested. A team of CMFRI officials will be visiting the Sindhudurg coastal area for inspection and for checking the ecological feasibility to implement the cage fishing activity. “The plan is in initial stage as of now. Presently, we are carrying out sea bass culture in Sindhudurg, a fish species found in brackish water in the region. After looking at the successful cage fish farming by the CMFRI, we have approached them for technical assistance for a large-scale project. It will help boost employment in fisheries sector,” said N. Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forest, State mangrove cell.  

After the inspection by the CMFRI, a detailed report will be submitted to the Maharashtra government, which will include suitable sites and species to be farmed.  Earlier in January this year, the CMFRI had demonstrated open sea cage farming in Indian waters, in an initiative for a Blue Revolution.