Grey Mullet fish can be farmed in diverse farming systems with a potential output of 4 tones per hectare with high profitability
The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai has successfully bred the Grey Mullet (Madavai), a high-valued commercial Brackishwater Fish for the first time in the country. It has been initiated in line with the Government of India’s vision for increasing the fish production under the Blue Revolution Mission. The Institute launched the breeding technology during the “Stakeholders’ Meet” organized at the Muttukadu Experimental Station, Chennai.
In his address, Dr Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR applauded the Institute’s achievement towards species diversification to increase the fish production in the enormous stretch of underutilized brackishwater resource in the country. Dr Jena complemented the team of scientists from the Fish Culture Division and ICAR-CIBA in the unique achievement that is a landmark in the Indian Brackishwater Aquaculture.
Dr K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai highlighted the fish’s versatility that it can be farmed in diverse farming systems like Monoculture, Polyculture and Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture Mode (IMTA) with a potential output of 4 tonnes per hectare / crop with high profitability. The successful breeding and larval production were achieved using the pond reared bloodstock in 2016-17. Dr Vijayan emphasized that during this season by December-January, the Institute has completed producing its third batch of Hatchery-Reared Grey Mullet Fingerlings.
The Director outlined the releasing of the indigenous species-specific functional pelleted feeds for the broodstock (Cephalus BroodPlus) and nursery (Cephalus NurseryPlus) developed by the Nutrition Division of the Institute.
The enterprising farmers from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were distributed the first batch of hatchery-produced Grey Mullet Seeds and species-specific feeds for Grey Mullet.
