Kochi: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has set up the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) on January 28 2017 at its Vizhinjam Research Centre to enhance the seed production of commercially important marine fishes. The 30-ton capacity Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) at ICAR-CMFRI, Vizhinjam was developed to boost the seed production for commercially important marine fishes especially for sea cage farming. The RAS utilizes a series of filtration systems to recycle seawater used in fish rearing tanks so that optimum water quality can be maintained for marine finfish bloodstock development.
Inaugurating the facility, Mr Sudarshan Bhagat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare said farmer-friendly technologies should be developed to attract people into fish farming. In order to solve the issues in the fisheries sector following the decline in the availability fishes from the sea, steps should be taken to improve the facilities and technologies for boosting the fish production through alternative ways, the minister said.
The Minister also visited the marine research aquarium, which displays rare collection of marine fishes, invertebrates and seaweeds. The aquarium has 25 large glass aquaria of 1300 Litre capacity each, a large 4000 litre acrylic cylindrical tank and three large concrete tanks containing marine organisms.
He said mariculture practices should be given due importance to increase marine fish production. “Sea cage farming is one of the best alternatives to increase the fish production to improve fisheries sector”, he said lauding the CMFRI for its initiatives to popularize the technology of cage farming across the coastal states. Appreciating the efforts of Vizhinjam Research Centre of ICAR-CMFRI in marine ornamental fish and ‘mabe’ pearl productions, the minister said farming of ornamental fishes and pearl oysters should also be promoted among the farmers by giving training to them.
He visited hatcheries and marine aquarium. The 30-ton capacity Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) at ICAR-CMFRI, Vizhinjam was developed to boost the seed production for commercially important marine fishes especially for sea cage farming. The RAS utilizes a series of filtration systems to recycle seawater used in fish rearing tanks so that optimum water quality can be maintained for marine finfish bloodstock development.
According to Dr A Gopala Krishnan, Director of CMFRI, the newly installed RAS facility at the CMFRI could accelerate the growth of mariculture in the country “Mariculture is the hope of future generation. CMFRI is now focusing on research to enhance the mariculture activities through cage farming methods,” he said adding that the sea cage farming of commercial important fish species such as silver pompano, cobia, groupers, lobster etc. would help the country to increase its blue economy.
Source : Aqua International