New Delhi: India’s government promotes sustainable aquaculture and marine exports through the Ministry of Commerce and MPEDA, enhancing production, quality, and biodiversity protection.
Advancing Sustainable Aquaculture
MPEDA enhances aquaculture management by reducing antibiotics, improving disease control, and ensuring seafood safety through SHAPHARI certification and ELISA labs. It supports sustainable shrimp farming with NaCSA, nursery units, and shrimp handling centers.
Promoting Marine Conservation and Eco-Friendly Fishing Practices
MPEDA and NETFISH promote eco-friendly fishing through TED trials, marine mammal assessments, bycatch reduction, and coastal clean-ups to combat marine pollution.
Key Aquaculture and Marine Export Achievements
As per the latest data, MPEDA’s technology transfer projects have benefitted thousands of aquaculture farmers and hatchery operators. Some notable achievements include:
- Asian Seabass Hatchery in Tamil Nadu supplied 49.8 million seabass fingerlings to 4,300 beneficiaries.
- Mud Crab Hatchery in Tamil Nadu provided 11.27 million crab instars to 919 beneficiaries.
- GIFT Tilapia Hatchery in Andhra Pradesh supplied 50.48 million GIFT seed to 581 beneficiaries.
- Marine Finfish Hatchery in Kerala distributed over 1.25 lakh cobia fingerlings and more than 5 lakh pompano fish.
- Aquatic Quarantine Facilities in Chennai quarantined over 25.26 lakh L. vannamei broodstocks and more than 28,000 P. monodon broodstocks.
- Artemia Demo Farms in Tamil Nadu produced 9,400 kg of artemia biomass and 4,673 tins of artemia cysts.
Strengthening Research and Disease Management
MPEDA’s Central Laboratories have been crucial in monitoring and preventing aquaculture diseases.
- The Mobile Aquaculture Disease Diagnosis Laboratory processed 4,570 molecular disease samples, benefiting 1,094 farmers.
- The Central Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory analyzed 30,635 samples for disease surveillance and seed health.
- The Central Aquaculture Genetics Laboratory processed 24,897 samples, supporting 555 farmers with advanced genetic diagnostics.
Training and Outreach Programs
MPEDA has conducted numerous training programs and farmer outreach events to disseminate best practices in aquaculture. Notable programs include:
- 95 training sessions on Asian Seabass farming attended by 1,814 farmers.
- 106 training events on Mangrove Mud Crab culture benefitting 1,909 participants.
- 79 programs on GIFT Tilapia farming, reaching 1,165 farmers.
- 558 farmer meetups for SC/ST beneficiaries, benefitting 17,563 individuals.
Future Prospects: Expanding Seaweed Cultivation
MPEDA and RGCA, under PMMSY, partner with Tamil Nadu to develop a Seaweed Aqua Park, promoting sustainable seaweed farming and boosting the marine bio-economy. MPEDA’s efforts strengthen India’s seafood sustainability and global market access.
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