ICAR-CMFRI’s Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) for nursery rearing of marine fishes dedicated to the nation

20^th March 2023, Visakhapatnam

The indigenously developed Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute was dedicated to the nation by Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI today. The RAS is a culture system for rearing marine finfish in controlled conditions with minimum use of water and efficient management practices.

This is the first time that an RAS has been indigenously developed and standardized for rearing fish seed of average 0.5 gm size.

Fully developed and standardized at Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, this RAS system is economical for Indian mariculture as it can produce a fish seed of 12 gm at only Rs. 11.20. Earlier an RAS system had been developed at the Centre for broodstock development and breeding by recirculating the water used, thereby minimizing the wastage of this precious resource.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan said that this is a major breakthrough in mariculture research in the country and will pave the way for entrepreneurs to invest in this sector. Moreover, with the training programmes being imparted by the Visakhapatnam RC of ICAR-CMFRI on nursery rearing of Indian pompano using this facility to fish farmers, students and entrepreneurs, the RAS system will ensure that skilled manpower is available in future for scaling up production.

The Director also inaugurated the newly constructed Farmers Training Hostel Indian Pompano of the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre.  He also released publications and two products—Cadalmin  Nann Con and ICAR-CMFRI Marine Microbial Consortium (MMC).

Cadalmin Nann Con is an indigenous, packaged concentrate of Nannochloropsis oculata which is a critical feed for rotifers which are indispensable in finfish hatcheries as live feed for larvae. This product has a shelf life of 5 months and can be reconstituted as required. The other product, ICAR-CMFRI MMC is an indigenously developed multi-strain probiotic supplement for marine finfish in nursery and grow-out culture systems. Due to its high anti-bacterial activity, it helps in improving growth, survival and gut health in marine cultured fish.

Three MoUs were also signed on the occasion. The first is with MSR Aqua Pvt. Ltd. for broodstock development and seed production technology for Indian pompano, and with Ms. Revathi Bandaru for providing technical services on sea cage farming of Indian pompano. The third MoU was signed with Laya NGO for providing technical services in seaweed cultivation as a knowledge partner.

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