Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute proposes mariculture parks to boost coastal fish production

Kochi (Kerala) [India], October 13 : The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has proposed the establishment of mariculture parks to enhance the coastal fish production of the country, in view of the growing food and nutritional demand anticipated in the coming years.
This proposal was presented at a discussion on aquaculture and fisheries-based transformation of food systems held at the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC) in Kochi today.
According to CMFRI, mariculture parks can be set up in the coastal districts where suitable sites have been identified for various mariculture activities, including marine cage fish farming and seaweed farming.
"Establishing mariculture technology parks in the Indian territorial waters would pave the path for a sustainable blue economy by integrating indigenous mariculture technologies and fortifying the blue growth strategy envisaged by the Prime Minister of India. As part of this, efforts are needed to improve and develop legislation and ocean accounting. This waould help achieve the intended socio-economic, and ecological goals of the country through mariculture ventures", said the CMFRI paper which was presented at the 16th ASC by Dr Suresh Kumar Mojjada.
CMFRI has identified 46,823.2 hectares of suitable sites for marine cage fish farming along Indian territorial waters and 333 prospective seaweed farming sites covering 23,950 hectares, said the presentation. The top three coastal states with the maximum area suitable for sea cage farming are Andhra Pradesh (11,792 ha), Gujarat (11,572.2 ha), and Tamil Nadu (7,673 ha), as per the CMFRI statement.
Scientists hold the view that the parks will help to avoid the scattered and unplanned expansion of sea farming, which can lead to disruption of the ecosystem, user conflicts, and other social issues.
The statement mentioned that the establishment of mariculture parks is in line with the crucial strategies needed for the growth of the mariculture sector, including comprehensive planning, promotion of new production technologies, infrastructure development, improved industry-pro policy making, and implementation of efficient marine spatial planning in conjunction with other maritime sectors.
The session also highlighted that the creation of climate adaptation plans integrated with fisheries management is required by engaging scientists, fishers, traders, processors, policymakers and other stakeholders to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
The CMFRI has developed indigenous mariculture technologies for offshore and nearshore cage fish farming, bivalve farming, seaweed farming, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture practice, and a combined farming practice using either seaweed or bivalve with cage fish farming.