CIBA develops indigenous hatchery tech for high-value commercial fish Grey Mullet

For the to start with time in the country, Chennai-centered Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has announced roll-out of the indigenous hatchery engineering for Gray Mullet, a higher-valued professional fish.

CIBA has effectively bred the Gray Mullet (Madavai), a really sought right after fish for farming farmers have been awaiting this kind of a engineering for far more than 3 many years. The extensive-awaited breeding engineering is a significant breakthrough that can assistance raise fish output, in line with the government’s blue revolution initiatives, said KK Vijayan, Director, CIBA.

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Gray Mullet (recognized as Thirutha in Malayalam) is a favored decision for shoppers due to its style, texture, considerably less spines, and dietary worth. The fish fetches a great market value — in the vary of ₹350-500 for each kg. Fast advancement fees, omnivorous feeding pattern, and acceptance of formulated pellet feed make this fish an ideal wide variety not only for brackishwater farming, but also for freshwater and marine farming, he said.

It can be farmed in varied farming techniques — mono lifestyle, poly lifestyle and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture manner (IMTA) — with possible output of four tonnes for each hectare/crop. With charge of output at about ₹200, he said, the financial gain margin is higher for farmers.

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Contemplating its significance for brackishwater aquaculture, he said, CIBA has offered higher impetus in the breeding of gray mullet due to the fact 2015, lending particular concentration on acquiring a captive broodstock and breeding.

1 of the challenges with the breeding of gray mullet in captivity is its limited annual reproductive period — minimal to just a handful of months through monsoon, and reproductive dysfunctions in captivity, and that’s why, hatchery output is complicated, he added.

This is a excellent accomplishment in direction of species diversification to raise the fish output in the tremendous stretch of underutilized brackishwater resource in the country, said JK Jena, DDG, (Fisheries), ICAR.

In accordance to Vijayan, CIBA has previously created commendable progress in seed output of different brackishwater foods fish species like Asian Seabass, Milkfish, Pearl Spot, Whiskered Catfish as well as decorative species this kind of as Spotted Scat, Moon Fish, Orange and Chromide.