DG, ICAR inaugurates First World Conference on Brackishwater Aquaculture (BRAQCON-2019)

23^rd January, 2019, Chennai

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra , Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR)inaugurated World Brackishwater Aquaculture Conference (BRAQCON-2019) here today.

In his address, Dr. Mohapatra stated about 5 billion USD contribution made by Sea foods exports for the national income. He also said that the research and development organizations in coordination with the private sectors, farmers and other related stakeholders need to strategically plan and implement concerted efforts in order to develop this sector on a sustainable basis.

Dr. Mohapatra also urged for the evolving the long term breeding programmes in addition to species diversification, nutrition and input supply to improve the productivity of brackishwater aquaculture species need to be thought of. He emphasized that the gene editing would be the key for breeding of shrimps and fishes with specific characteristics like disease pathogen exclusion, faster growth and meat quality.

Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR accentuated on the importance of fisheries and aquaculture in India. He also discussed about the rendering of technical support by ICAR institutions in the total fish production of 11 million tonnes in India, employment generation, societal development and doubling the farmers’ income and all together towards achieving the blue economy of the country.

Dr. S.K. Saxena, Director, Export Inspection Council, Government of India and Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, CIBA and Convener of Braqcon-2019 were also present during the occasion.

The themes of the conference were Aquaculture production systems, reproduction and larviculture, Fish and shell fish nutrition, aquaculture start up, aquaculture CEO round table and socio-economic and livelihood issues.

A total of about 700 fishery scientists including 30 international fisheries experts presented their research achievements in the conference.

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