Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute develops high-value fish seeds
Kochi: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed seed production technology of a food fish, a marine ornamental fish and a marine ornamental shrimp which are commercially important and high value species in export market. The Institute claimed that the seed production technology for these commercially important set of species have been developed for the first time in the world. The Vizhinjam Research Centre of the CMFRI developed the breeding technology of the food fish pink ear emperor, locally known as yeri, ornamental fish Marcia’s anthias and ornamental shrimp named camel shrimp. The successful development of captive brood stock and breeding of all these species is the first of its kind in the world.
Brood stock of Marcia’s anthias
CMFRI developed the technology after two years’ of continuous attempt using Re-circulating Aquaculture System (RAS) set up at the institute. A team led by Dr M K Anil, scientist-in-charge of Vizhinjam Research Centre of CMFRI developed the breeding technology which is expected to boost the mari-culture industry and seafood export as well. The pink ear emperor (Lethrinus lentjan ), a high value food fish with superior flesh qualities and hardy nature, is a delicacy in the domestic market and has got a potential demand in global seafood markets too. This is a sought after food fish which attains a growth of up to 2 kg and fetches Rs. 400 to 600 per kg in the domestic market. According to Dr Anil breeding technology of pink ear emperor will help the country boost the production of species through mari-culture activities such as cage fish farming.
Juvenile of camel shrimp
“The technology has been standardised for scaling up of this species among interested farmers”, he added. The seed production of Marcia’s anthias (Pseudanthias Marcia), which is a high value marine ornamental fish, is a great achievement as it exhibits complicated breeding habits. “The species is one of the most expensive reef fishes traded in the marine aquarium export market and fetches around $30 per fish in international market”, Dr. Anil said. The hatchery production and larval rearing technology of the camel shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) was also developed at the CMFRI. The shrimp grows up to 4-5 cm in length and fetches $10-12 in the international market and in the local market it is sold at Rs 500-700 per piece.
