Skill Development Programme on crafting low volume cages and farming of brackishwater fishes in cages by ICAR-CIBA

Brackishwater creeks and estuaries can be efficiently utilized by installing suitable cages for farming of fishes which is the prudent strategy for doubling fish farmers’ income and augmenting fish production. To achieve that, the art and science of crafting low volume cages suitable for brackishwaters and farming techniques of fishes need to be inculcated to the coastal fisher families and other interested farmers and entrepreneurs.

The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) has conducted a skill development programme for the fisher youths and aquaculture graduates on “Crafting low volume cages and farming of brackishwater fishes in cages” during 11th -14th July, 2017.

Trainees were provided hands-on training on cage fabrication and deployment in brackishwaters at Vennangupattu village, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, where CIBA is demonstrating cage farming of brackishwater fin fishes in collaboration with National Institute of Ocean Technology, Govt. of India, Chennai. Further, the fish health monitoring protocols and disease preventive measures were also taught to them. The social harmony with the local communities is the key for the viability and success of cage farming, therefore, skills on community handling were imparted using role-play techniques. Mobilising fisher families who have access and traditional right on the brackishwater resource is the better-fit model for cage farming.

An interaction session was arranged with the members of A.P.J.Abdul kalam Fish Producers Group, Vennangupattu village who are presently involved in this cage farming intervention by CIBA.

Nineteen trainees participated in the training and certificates were distributed as proof of the skill imparted.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture)