Brackishwater aquaculture

Brackishwater resources are considered unique and ideal for aquaculture due to their biodiversity richness, high productivity, wide tolerance of fishes to water parameters, negligible footprint on potable water, and less carbon emission. Besides, brackishwater has a line-up of seafood choices in its farming basket, ranging from finfishes, shrimps, crabs, clams, mussels, oysters and seaweed of different feeding natures gastronomic values, with ready demand in both domestic and export markets. In addition to food production, brackishwater aquaculture can generate substantial employment opportunities in diversified fields across coastal India. At this juncture, brackishwater aquaculture comes with many scopes and hope due to several positivities, catering to the country's societal and economic development.

Inception of CIBA

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India established the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) on 01-04-1987. The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture serves as the nodal agency for the development of brackishwater aquaculture in the country. The Headquarters of the Institute is located at Chennai with an experimental field station at Muttukadu (MES), about 30 km south of Chennai. A second experimental farming facility, which spreads around 64 acres in the Muttukadu backwaters, located at Kovalam has been added recently (22.05.2021) as expansion of the farming infrastructure. The Institute has two Research Centres, at Kakdwip in West Bengal in the east coast and at Navsari in Gujarat on the west coast of India. These centers' main objectives are to cater to the needs of aquaculture development with a regional perspective along the east and west coast of India.

Vision

CIBA envisages its role as one of the world’s foremost scientific research institute in brackishwater aquaculture through the pursuit of excellence in research and innovation that contribute modernization and development of sustainable brackishwater aquaculture in the country.

Mission

Our mission is to realize this vision through basic and applied research, and providing technological backstopping suitable for Indian conditions for the development of sustainable brackishwater aquaculture, which would provide much needed food, nutritional security, employment, economic well-being and societal development.

Mandates

  • Basic, strategic and applied research for techno-economically viable and sustainable culture systems for finfish and shellfish in brackishwater.
  • Species and systems diversification in Brackishwater aquaculture.
  • Act as a repository of information on brackishwater fishery resources with a systematic database.
  • Human Resource Development, capacity building and skill development through training, education and extension.

 

ICAR-CIBA is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and technology backstopping for this dynamic sector. In the last 34 years, CIBA made commendable progress by developing customized indigenous technologies for important aquaculture drivers, such as seed production and farming of diversified species, indigenous feeds, aquatic animal health solutions, climate-smart aquaculture, stock improvement strategies, community engagements and policy interventions through state and other Govt. agencies.

We foster responsible aquaculture that provides safe, sustainable seafood; creates employment and business opportunities in coastal communities; and complements CIBA’s comprehensive strategy for maintaining healthy and productive biological resources, ecosystems, and vibrant coastal communities. Fisheries being a state subject, to take the sector forward, partnership with institutions such as CIBA, State govt, Central govt, and other state and central agencies are imperative to construct the country's emerging blue economy.