ICAR - NBFGR captively raised and distributed Marine Ornamentals Seeds to the Tribal beneficiaries at Lakshadweep

24th February 2023, Agatti island

The ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow is maintaining a Germplasm resource center for marine ornamental organisms at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep for the conservation of genetic resources and livelihood upliftment of the local islanders. This facility includes hand-holding community aquaculture units, being maintained by the local women to raise the captive-bred marine ornamentals to the marketable size, as an alternate income source. It’s a unique venture, wherein Science and Societal development is taken up hand in hand with native resources.

Eighty-two local islanders (77 women) underwent intensive training (hands-on learning) for a month duration at this facility, so as to develop capacity building in growing marine ornamental organisms (fishes and shrimps). Further, four cluster-mode community aquaculture units with the participation of 46 women were created. The group successfully raised the ornamental shrimps to a marketable size. They have fruitfully completed four cycles and enhanced income.

To expand the activity and enhance the income of beneficiaries, in addition to the ornamental shrimps, captive-raised clownfish seeds were also supplied to them for further rearing. In this milieu, under the Tribal Sub Plan program, on today, Director, ICAR-NBFGR has distributed culture devices (rearing tubs, mini blower, aeration tubes & stones, hand net, feed, and beneficial bacteria) along with the seeds of the shrimps, (Thor hainanensis and Anylocaris brevicarpalis) and clownfish, Amhiprion nigripes and A. clarkii).

46 women beneficiaries from the four women clusters of Agatti island received the materials and stocked the animals in their respective units for further rearing. The NBFGR project team residing at Agatti island will regularly monitor the units and provide technical inputs, till the organisms reach the marketable size.       

This is the first of its kind model on captive rearing of native marine ornamentals with community participation by the local people in an environment-friendly manner, besides abiding by the laws of biodiversity and attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow)