Maharashtra Receives 500,000 Mussel Seeds to Boost Coastal Farming
The ICAR-CMFRI has delivered a total of 1 million mussel seeds to Maharashtra, enhancing coastal aquaculture initiatives.
ICAR-CMFRI has supplied 1 million mussel seeds in six months.
Training provided to 30 officials on sustainable aquaculture practices.
Oyster farming is also being promoted with 100,000 oyster seeds supplied.
In a significant move to enhance coastal farming, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has distributed an additional 500,000 hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisherfolk and tribal communities in Maharashtra. This brings the total number of seeds supplied to 1 million over the past six months, as announced on Saturday by the institute.
The initiative, spearheaded by CMFRI, aims to promote sustainable bivalve farming along the Maharashtra coastline, thereby creating new livelihood opportunities for local communities. Grinson George, the Director of CMFRI, emphasized that this project translates marine fisheries research into practical applications that benefit coastal populations.
The mussel seeds, which measure between 2-4 millimeters, were cultivated at CMFRI's Vizhinjam Regional Centre in Thiruvananthapuram under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). In addition to mussels, the institute also supplied 100,000 oyster seeds from its Madras Regional Station to further encourage oyster farming in the region.
CMFRI highlighted that the dual promotion of green mussel and oyster farming is expected to diversify income sources for fisherfolk and tribal communities while fostering science-based aquaculture practices. A team led by Principal Scientist M K Anil has trained 30 officials from Maharashtra's Mangrove Cell in nursery rearing and farming techniques for both mussels and oysters, ensuring the transfer of knowledge to local communities.
The Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is facilitating the involvement of farmers and coordinating the seed supply along with technical guidance for farming activities. George noted that bivalve farming requires low investment and operational costs, presenting a substantial opportunity to enhance coastal livelihoods while supporting ecosystem health. He added that integrating bivalve farming with mangrove restoration can aid conservation efforts, as these organisms help improve water quality through their filter-feeding habits.
