AP: CMFRI to initiate cage culture in Asian seas

Visakhapatnam, Apr 20: For the first time in India, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) plans to initiate cage culture for the Asian Sea Bass in the city and at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

About 10,000 fingerlings of Asian Sea Bass would be used in this project, CMFRI scientist G Syda Rao told UNI here.

He said the young fish, being maintained under strict conditions in the city laboratory, would be breed in a high-density polypropylene cage of 10 metres diameter and anchored at a depth of ten metres in Lawson's Bay.

The project was an experiment to test the viability of cage culture in the east coast, he said and added unlike Japan and other South East Asian countries which have calmer weather, the East coast was more prone to rough weather.

Dr Rao said the entire appraturs for the project would cost upto Rupees five lakh and the programme would extend over a period of six months, ending before the turbulent October or November months.

The culture period should be of the shortest duration to minimise risks. Through controlled dietary regime and other supervisory measures, each fingerling, is expected to grow to a weight of 750 grams to one kg, he said.

He claimed Cage culture works well with select species of fish such as Sea Bass that has good commercial value. One kg of Asian Sea Bass costs upto Rupees 250 in Kerala. The economic feasibility of the technology would be decided only after the experiment gives results.

UNI