ICAR-CMFRI Celebrates 78th Foundation Day

3^rd February 2025, Kochi

ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, marked its 78th Foundation Day with a lively three-day Fish Festival and Open House exhibition from 1st to 3rd February 2025. The Fish Fest featured a seafood festival, technology exhibition, buyer-seller meet, workshops, and training sessions, highlighting the latest advancements in the fisheries sector. The seafood fest showcased local delicacies such as green mussels, oysters, octopus, and various fish and shrimp dishes. The Buyer-Seller Meet, organized by the Ernakulam Krishi Vigyan Kendra, facilitated direct connections between farmers and consumers for authentic, locally produced farm-fresh items.

The event attracted a large public turnout, helping them discover organic farm products. Over 20 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) secured business deals and the festival also promoted women’s empowerment, with women SHGs displaying bamboo crafts, homemade sweets, and seafood delicacies. Additionally, farming inputs like nets were distributed to farmer SHGs from the SC community under ICAR-CMFRI’s Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) scheme.

The Open House Exhibition on 3rd February provided a captivating look into marine life, focusing on the conservation of marine mammals and endangered species. It served as a powerful tool for raising awareness about marine conservation, pollution, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. The ICAR-CMFRI’s National Marine Biodiversity Museum, with 2,856 specimens, alongside various labs, hatcheries, a marine aquarium, and a BSF-based waste management unit, were all open to the public. Students flocked to the institute to view diverse marine life, including fishes, molluscs, sea snakes, and the massive whale skeleton on display. An art installation emphasizing the threat of plastic pollution to marine ecosystems was also featured.

The exhibition also showcased marine technologies like cage fish farming, IMTA, RAS, and biofloc farming, along with tools such as binoculars for marine mammal surveys, oceanographic instruments, and seaweed cultivation methods. Special attention was given to a scientist-student interaction session, where knowledge of ICAR-CMFRI’s research and technological innovations was exchanged. Laboratories focused on molecular biology, fishery biology, climate change, and other marine-related fields were also open to the public.

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