Meeting Discusses Aquaculture Trends and Future

Several directors and officers from National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), state fisheries departments, marine product development authority (MPEDA), coastal aquaculture authority (CAA), aquaculturists entrepreneurs, eminent scientists from ICAR fisheries institutes and professors from universities participated in the event, reports TimesOfIndia.

The consultation will focus on the present scenario of fish introductions in the country, proposals on new introductions, and issues related to safe, responsible and sustainable aquaculture development in the country.

Aquaculture is growing at a fast pace of over eight per cent globally since 1970 and has diversified to over 300 fish species the world over. At present, carps contribute a significant share of aquaculture production in the country, with several other species of commercial and regional importance gaining increasing importance for diversified farming. During the last six decades, over a dozen alien species have been introduced legally or illegally to diversify aquaculture production in the country.

Over the years, aqua-farmers of the country have been stressing on importation of new varieties of finfish and shellfish species for aquaculture and aquarium purposes in the context of changing domestic and international markets.