Kovalam Field Laboratory of Madras Regional Station of CMFRI

Deployment of artificial reefs in Cuddalore district

Ornamental Fish Breeding at Kovalam Field Laboratory

Students Exposure Visit at Fishery Biology Labortory

TSP Harvest at Pazhaverkadu

The history of the Madras Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI dates back to the year 1947 when the headquarters of CMFRI was first established in the premises of the Zoological Research Laboratories of the University of Madras. In 1949, the CMFRI headquarters was shifted to Mandapam Camp, leaving behind a Fishery Survey Unit at Madras, which was upgraded as a Research Unit in 1952, and further upgraded to Sub-station in 1 9 6 5. With the expansion of research activities, the research unit expanded to be a Research Centre, then as a Regional Station, and came to be known as Madras Regional Station of ICAR-CMFRI. In addition to a field laboratory at Kovalam, this Centre administers two field centres viz., Ongole and Cuddalore along the Coromandel coast. The Centre focuses on several key areas of research crucial for the sustainable management of marine resources in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The research thrust includes providing advisories for sustainable fisheries management, particularly tailored to the region's needs. Additionally, the Station specializes in seed production of commercially important marine finfishes, and the development of farming technologies, aiming to enhance the local aquaculture industry.The Centre is also dedicated to popularizing cage farming techniques and conducting research on coastal habitat enhancement and restoration, including the deployment of artificial reefs in Tamil Nadu's coastal waters. Furthermore, the Centre conducts socio-economic studies and community empowerment initiatives to ensure the well-being of coastal communities involved in fisheries.Over the past five years, the Centre has achieved significant milestones, including the maturation and broodstock development of marine tropical lobsters and finfishes, and the successful implementation of open sea cage culture for lobsters and finfishes along the Coromandel coast. The station has also played a crucial role in site selection, design, construction, and deployment of artificial reefs, contributing to habitat restoration efforts in the region.