Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu releases ICAR-CMFRI’s Seed Production Technology of John’s Snapper

Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India released the John’s Snapper Seed Production Technology and dedicated the Snapper Seeds in a function organized at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi today. He handed-over the Snapper Seeds to two Progressive Fish Farmers hailing from the region.

In his address, Shri Naidu accentuated that the Snapper Seed Production and Subsequent Mariculture in Cages would fulfill the domestic demand of marine finfish as the cheap and best source of animal protein. Being a rich source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, the Snapper’s consumption will improve the general well-being of the country’s vast population and its farming would be lucrative for fish farmers. He emphasized that the existing gap prevalent in the country between demand and supply can only be bridged by marine cage farming and there is a need to further diversify the species mix.

The Vice President applauded the Institute’s efforts in developing the marine capture fisheries and mariculture of the country. Appreciating the scientific inputs emanating from the Institute contributing to sustainable development of marine fisheries in the country, he emphasized that the marine cage farming and availability of quality seeds round the year of commercially important finfishes are the Institute’s two path-breaking achievements. It has provided the much needed impetus for mariculture development in the country.

Shri Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao Garu, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Vinay Chand, Collector & District Magistrate, Visakhapatnam; Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi and Shri K. Muraleedharan, Institute Management Committee Member, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi were also present during the occasion.

Snappers are in high demand globally and are much sought after in India with farm-gate price of this fish is Rs 400/kg. It is an excellent species for mariculture owing to its fast growth rate, efficient feed conversions, fantastic meat quality and superior consumer preference. John’s snapper seeds globally have only been produced in Singapore with limited success. Keeping this in view, ICAR-CMFRI at Visakhapatnam Regional Centre started developing broodstock a year and a half back. The fishes matured and were induced to spawn in the beginning of this year. Thereafter, continuous seed production has been achieved. This is the first instance in the country that snapper seeds have been produced. With production of snapper seeds on a consistent basis, Indian mariculture is poised for a new surge with exponential increase in maricultured finfish production.

The present success has been the outcome of a Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India funded project entitled “Developing a new candidate species for mariculture; marine finfish John’s snapper, Lutjanus johnii (BT/PR32023/AAQ/3/944/2019)”.

(Source: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi)