Sea ranching of the green tiger shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus under the Central Sector Scheme component of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre is regularly carrying out sea ranching of hatchery produced green tiger shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus seeds in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to replenish the natural stock and to enhance the shrimp productivity. This is helpful in promoting the livelihood of the fishermen in the region and also for conserving and maintaining a sustainable shrimp stock in the wild. Owing to its importance, a project entitled "Sea ranching of Green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) Post Larvae (PL) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu" is being carried out by the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI with funding support of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India under the Central Sector Scheme component of the PMMSY. Under this project, a total of 200 million Green tiger shrimp Post Larvae will be released in a period of four years (2022-2026) in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar region of Tamil Nadu.
A total of 1.3 million green tiger shrimp seeds of PL 20 were sea ranched at Devipattinam (Palk Bay), Ramanathapuram District on 19th September, 2024. The shrimp seeds were released by representatives from Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Ramanathapuram North in the presence of Fishermen Association representatives and staff of the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI. Dr. K. Vinod, Principal Scientist & Head, ICAR-CMFRI, Mandapam and Dr. G. Tamilmani, Principal Scientist & Principal Investigator of the project presided the event. The fishermen thanked the Government of India and ICAR-CMFRI for such an initiative and expressed that this activity will be helpful in replenishing the green tiger shrimp stock. A total of 101.74 million green tiger shrimp seeds were sea ranched in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar since the inception of the Project (February, 2022).