CMFRI’s novel venture yields bumper harvest of green mussels

An experimental farming on a industrial scale has proved that the revolutionary farming know-how — Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) apply — is thriving and nicely appropriate to Kerala’s ecosystem.

A bumper harvest of eco-friendly mussel was recorded in the integrated farming mixed with cage fish and seaweed farming carried out by the Central Marine Fisheries Study Institute under participatory manner with fish farmers in Moothakunnam in Ernakulam district.

The IMTA brings together appropriate proportions of fish, seaweeds and filter feeding bivalves in farming to create well balanced programs for environmental and financial steadiness. CMFRI started the venture in December final calendar year as part of its analysis initiative for acquiring a sustainable cage fish farming model appropriate for Kerala’s ecosystem.

Far better produce

The to start with harvest among the the three crops of the integrated farming, yielded all-around a person tonne of eco-friendly mussel from a hundred and fifty strings hung all-around as a lot of as four fish cages. Specific mussels grew to the size of seventy two g which is a thriving development level in mussel farming. Even as the harvest was having put in the course of the Covid lockdown, the complete deliver offered out in no time as there was a large need for eco-friendly mussels.

A good harvest with better development level of eco-friendly mussel confirmed that IMTA apply is economically possible and nicely appropriate to Kerala’s situation. A scientific staff led by Shoji Joseph, Principal Scientist of CMFRI, also observed that the fishes inside of the cage attained better development and seaweed becoming cultured all-around the cage confirmed nutritious position with rapid development level. Fish will be harvested by the finish of the following thirty day period.

CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan reported the institute would acquire measures to popularise the IMTA apply across the coastal States as in the scenario of cage fish farming. CMFRI has properly formulated a model of IMTA apply on open sea waters of Tamil Nadu which will help coastal persons fetch amplified money.