National Marine Fish Brood Bank
Recirculation Aquaculture System - RAS
Marine Finfish larviculture facility at Mandapam
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
Indian pompano harvest from Coastal Ponds
Harvest of cobia from Sea Cage
The Mariculture Division is at the forefront of research and innovation, aimed at propelling sustainable mariculture practices for livelihood enhancement and growth of the nation's blue economy. Focusing on cutting-edge technologies for broodstock development, seed production, and farming of economically important finfish, shellfish, other invertebrates, and seaweed species, the Division endeavours to broaden the scope of production systems. Mariculture research spans biology, nutrition, bio-security, health, genetics, and habitat enhancement, complemented by the development of spatial planning, techno-economic models, decision support systems, automation, and digital technologies tailored for mariculture applications. Our notable achievements include pioneering technologies for captive breeding, seed production, and farming >30 species, alongside the establishment of standardized culture systems encompassing Coastal ponds, Tanks, Cages, Pens, Rafts, RAS, and Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). The Division has made significant advancements in refining larval-rearing protocols, nursery systems, and mass culture techniques for diverse algal species and invertebrates as live feed for various stages of finfishes and shellfishes. Through extensive demonstrations, training, skilling initiatives as well as knowledge dissemination programs, the division has empowered countless individuals within the mariculture sector, thereby fostering livelihoods and blue economic goals. The Division remains steadfast in its commitment to driving forward the frontiers of mariculture research and facilitating a brighter, sustainable future for our oceans and communities.
- Thrust Areas of Research
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Major Achievements
- Developed and disseminated technologies/ package of practices for seed production and farming of five food fish species (Cobia: Rachycentron canadum; Indian pompano: Trachinotus mookalee; Silver pompano: Trachinotus blochii; Orange spotted grouper: Epinephelus coioides; John’s snapper: Lutjanus johnii).
- Standardized 11 fish culture systems (HDPE Frame Cage: Circular, 6 m diameter and 4 m depth; GI Frame Cage: Circular, 6 m diameter and 4 m depth; GI Square Coastal Cage: 4 m diameter x 4 m depth; Mono-line Seaweed Farming; Raft Culture of Seaweed; Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA); Mussel farming (Mono-line and Raft culture); Coastal Pond Farming; Pen culture, Lobster farming, Re-circulatory Aquaculture System).
- Disseminated technologies for breeding and rearing of 11 ornamentals (Amphiprion percula; A. ocellaris, A. frenatus; A. sebae, A. nigripes, A. ephippium, A. perideraion, A. clarkii, A. akallopisos, A. sandaracinos, Premnas biaculeatus )
- Developed pure stock and technologies for mass culture of nine copepod species (Parvocalanus crassirostris; Bestiolina similis; B. coreana; Oithona brevicornis; Dioithona oculata, Acartia southwelli, A. tropica, A. bilobata, Apocyclops cmfri) as live feed.
- Broodstock and seed production technologies standardized for nine food fish species (Lethrinus nebulosus, Lethrinus lentjan, Pomadasys furcatus, Acanthopagrus berda, Sparidentexjamalensis, Siganusvermiculatus, Thenusunimaculatus,Petrarctusrugosus, Psettodeserumei) and 21 ornamentals (Chrysiptera hemicyanea, C. cyanea, C. unimaculata Pycnochromis retrofasciatus, Pseudanthias squamipinnis, P. marcia, Amblyglyphidodon indicus, Pomacentrus caeruleus, P. pavo, Chromisviridis, Neopamacentru nemurus, N. filamentosus, N. cyanomos, , Pseudochromis dilectus, Dacyllus carneus, D. trimaculatus, D. auranus, Chromis viridis, Nemateleotris decora, Camel shrimp, Carpet anemone)
- Standardized Mono-line Seaweed Farming, Raft Culture of Seaweeds and Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (fish + Seaweed).
- Standardized larval rearing protocol and Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) based nursery for Cobia, Silver pompano,Indian pompano, Orange spotted grouper, John’s snapper.
- Captive breeding technologies standardized for Oryzeas dancena and O. setnai for use as model fish in marine research
- Developed technology for mass culture and harvest of micro algae, Nannochloropsis gaditana, in land based open raceways.
- Developed and released a multi-strain probiotic consortium (ICAR-CMFRI-MMC) as a potential supplementary diet for marine finfishes in nursery and grow out farming stages.
- Identified 317 potential seaweed farming sites (23,970 ha area) and 131 potential cage culture sites (46,823 ha area) along Indian maritime waters andwere delineated through Spatial Model Optimization.
- One hundred and fifty five Artificial Reefs, deployed along the territorial waters and studies showed an increase in fish production worth Av. Rs. 2.5 million/ site/year from the reefs.
- About 5300 persons were trained/ skilled in areas of Sea cage farming, Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems, Seaweed farming, Breeding and seed production, Live feed culture, IMTA, Mussel farming, Sustainable mariculture, Ornamental fish farming, Artificial reef deployment and conducted >500 demonstrations in last five years.
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Technology or Concepts Developed
- Low cost semi-automatic feed dispenser (10 kg capacity) fabricated and demonstrated in farmer’s sea cage.
- Developed data base of biochemical composition and sex steroid hormone profile of important fish species in mariculture
- Prototype of RAS based marine microbial consortium with bio-filtration units developedMarine probiotic consortiafor ammonia reduction in culture media and vibriocidal activity in fishes developed
- Finfish immunization protocol with a multivalent Vibrio vaccine (Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahemolyticusand V. harveyi) applied through immersion method
- Good Aquaculture Practice (GAqP) developed for Indian Pompano and Orange Spotted Grouper
- Incremental research for diversifying production systems (pond, raft, pen, cage, RAS, etc.); scaling up cage culture (15 m dia. cages)
- Artificial feed (attractants, low volume-high nutrition, medicated feeds, micro algae powder and algal paste, feeddelivery mechanisms and automation)
- Recorded high survival and growth rate of Indian Pompano, Trachinotus mookalee supplemented with indigenously developed Marine Microbial Consortium (ICAR-CMFRI-MMC) which exhibits vibriocidal activity too
- Marine micro-algal culture for human consumption
- Genomic studies and Selective breeding for useful traits (Pompano)
- Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (EAA) with one health approach
- Food safety, GAP, bio-security (fish immunization, SPF, SPR, SPT seeds)
- Research on value chain approach (Food and ornamental fishes)
- Climate change on biology of species; mariculture system stability; engineering challenges
- Assessment of carrying capacity and spatial planning
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Ongoing Research Projects
SI.No. Project Code Project Title Principal Investigator Project Period 1 MDN/AR/21 Assessing the performance of artificial reefs deployed along Tamil Nadu coast Dr. Joe K. Kizhakudan 2020- MAR 2024 2 MDN/HCY/18 Development of hatchery technologies for commercially important species in mariculture Dr. V.V.R Suresh 2017-MAR 2024 3 MDN/REP/20 Analysis of reproductive characteristics of selected potential species for mariculture Dr. Shoji Joseph 2017-MAR 2024 4 MDN/SMP/19 Development of sustainable mariculture practices through technological innovations in cage and coastal farming Dr. Imelda Joseph 2020- MAR 2025 -
Scientific Staff
No Name Designation 1 Dr. V. V. R. Suresh Principal Scientist & Head, Mariculture Division 2 Dr. Imelda Joseph Principal Scientist 3 Dr. Madhu K. Principal Scientist 4 Dr. Rema Madhu Principal Scientist 5 Dr. Shoji Joseph Principal Scientist 6 Dr. Boby Ignatius Principal Scientist 7 Dr. B. Santhosh Principal Scientist & Head, Vizhinjam RC 8 Dr. Joe K. Kizhakudan Principal Scientist & Head, Visakhapatnam RC 9 Dr. A. K. Abdul Nazar Principal Scientist 10 Dr. Jayasree Loka Principal Scientist 11 Dr. Saju George Principal Scientist 12 Dr. C. Kalidas Principal Scientist 13 Dr. G. Tamilmani Principal Scientist 14 Dr. Krishna Sukumaran Senior Scientist 15 Dr. Suresh Babu P.P. Senior Scientist & SIC 16 Dr. M. Sakthivel Senior Scientist 17 Dr. Ritesh Ranjan Senior Scientist 18 Dr. Biji Xavier Senior Scientist 19 Dr. P. Rameshkumar Senior Scientist 20 Dr. Divu D. Senior Scientist 21 Dr. Anikuttan K. K. Senior Scientist 22 Dr. Sekar Megarajan Senior Scientist 23 Dr. Rajesh N. Scientist 24 Dr. Anuraj A. Scientist 25 Dr. Rathi Bhuvaneswari G. Scientist 26 Dr. Shilta M. T. Scientist 27 Shri. Sankar M. Scientist 28 Shri. Ambarish P. Gop Scientist 29 Shri. Tanveer Hussain Scientist 30 Miss. Bavithra R. Scientist
