The fish cage culture taken up by Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies as a part of ‘Samagra Matsyagramam Project’ (Integrated Fish Farming) will be extended to more areas in the State.

The project proved that the freshwater and brackish water bodies in the State are highly suitable for fish culture. The success story of the project encourages KUFOS to develop fish farming projects and to extend it to other areas by exploiting the potential of the sector, B Madhusoodana Kurup, Vice Chancellor, KUFOS said.

He also inaugurated launched the harvest in Puthenvelikkara Panchayat near here, where a yield of around two tonnes of Seabass (Kalanchi) was recorded, and over 170 kg of Pearl Spot (Karimeen), all cultured in cages at Kakkamadanthuruth and Thiruthur areas. The harvests were a bumper one.

The project, initiated with the support of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Kerala State Fisheries Department, has been turned to a huge success with a big catch of Seabass and Pearl Spot from eight cages installed in the backwaters of the areas.

The yield of Seabass, with an average weight of 1.6 kg is a rare achievement in cage culture within nine months.

The University, he said, introduced eco-friendly farming methods to achieve sustainability of fisheries. The project also enriched the indigenous fish stocks that are facing the threat of extinction.

Aimed at empowering fish farmers in panchayats, the project has been receiving encouraging response from the farming community. KUFOS initiated the project focusing on freshwater fish culture, brackish water fish culture, ornamental fish culture, cage culture and integrated farming utilising the resources of public and private ponds and backwaters.

Daisy C Kappen, Associate Professor of KUFOS, is the Principal Investigator of the project.

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