ICAR-CIBA, Chennai promotes Asian Seabass Nursery rearing as livelihood development activity for the scheduled class families in the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu

25 February 2026, Chennai

ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, organized an awareness-cum-training programme on ‘Nursery Rearing of Asian Seabass as a Livelihood Development and Employment Generation Intervention for Scheduled Caste Families’, in Tamil Nadu.

ICAR-CIBA has developed an economically viable livelihood model aimed at landless agricultural labourers belonging to the Scheduled Caste community by effectively utilizing brackishwater common property resources. The initiative focuses on promoting nursery rearing of Asian seabass as a sustainable and income-generating enterprise.

There is a substantial demand for nursery-reared seabass fingerlings (10–12.5 cm) for stocking in grow-out ponds and cages, while hatcheries generally supply only fry of less than 2 cm. The intermediate nursery rearing phase, which grows fry to fingerling size within 75–90 days, has emerged as a crucial and economically viable activity. Being labour-intensive in nature, this enterprise provides assured income and employment opportunities for beneficiary groups.

Dr Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, highlighted that the Institute has developed a complete technology package for easy adoption by coastal communities. The package includes small net cages, quality seed, feed, and hands-on training support. He noted that ICAR-CIBA has been successfully demonstrating this model across coastal states with active participation from Scheduled Caste families.

During the programme, Dr Lal handed over ₹4.68 lakh as revenue earned by beneficiary groups through seabass nursery rearing, underscoring the economic viability and impact of the initiative.

Smt R. Sharmila, Joint Director, Fisheries, Nagapattinam Region, Government of Tamil Nadu, in her felicitation address, informed participants that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Government of India provides a 40% subsidy for women and SC/ST beneficiaries to undertake Asian seabass nursery rearing as a group-based livelihood activity. She encouraged participants to approach the Fisheries Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu to avail the scheme benefits.

In the technical session, ICAR-CIBA scientists delivered detailed presentations on seabass nursery rearing technology using visual aids. The programme also included a field visit to the ICAR-CIBA seabass nursery demonstration unit at Mathampattinam village near Poompuhar. Participants received first-hand exposure to the operations, where beneficiary groups demonstrated practical aspects of nursery management.

The awareness-cum-training programme was organized under a project supported by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, being implemented by ICAR-CIBA in Tamil Nadu.

Approximately 150 participants from coastal villages of Sirkali taluk attended the training programme, reflecting strong community interest in adopting seabass nursery rearing as a sustainable livelihood option.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)