Research thematic areas
Development of comprehensive hatchery technology for seed production and larval rearing of economically important brackishwater candidate finfishes: Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer); Milkfish (Chanos chanos); Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus); Pearlspot (Etroplus suratensis); Long whiskers catfish (Mystus gulio); Ornamental fish species; (Scatophagus argus, Monodactylus argenteus, Pseudetroplus maculatus)
Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)
Milkfish (Chanos chanos)
Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)
Red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)
Pearlspot (Etroplus suratensis)
Whisker catfish (Mystus gulio)
Monoangel (Monodactylus argenteus)
Spotted scat(Scatophagus argus)
Orange chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus)
Development of sustainable cost-effective nursery rearing and grow-out farming technologies in diversified systems and to develop customized technology models suitable for small-scale farmers to large scale entrepreneurs
Nursery rearing
Nursery rearing in hapa systems Pond based nursery rearing
Cage culture in open water bodies Recirculatory aquaculture systems
Diversification of brackishwater aquaculture with finfish farming by undertaking front-line demonstrations of pertinent models and capacity development in different agro-ecosystems
Three tier grow-out culture of Asian seabass Polyculture of finishes
Guiding doctoral research programmes and capacity enhancement of stakeholders
Breeding of hilsa in the west coast of India
Breeding of hilsa fish, Tenualosa ilisha was successfully conducted for the first time in the west coast of India. A total of 31,000 hilsa larvae were reared for a period of 30 days and a survival of 6.6% was recorded.
First private hatchery for Asian seabass
Technology backstopping for establishing the first private seabass fish hatchery and hatchery technology was transferred to CANARES Aqua LLP, Kumta, Karnataka. Hatchery seed production was supported by supplying seabass eggs (16.2 lakhs).
Modular RAS based pearlspot hatchery was established at Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra for demonstration of pearlspot seed production as a livelihood model to SHG beneficiaries.
Research projects – in operation
| No | Title | Funded By | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Development of hatchery technologies for breeding and seed production of candidate brackishwater finfish species under improved captive rearing systems (PI: Dr. M. Kailasam) | ICAR-CIBA | 2020-2023 |
| 2 | Development and demonstration of novel brackishwater finfish farming technologies (PI-Dr. R. Jayakumar) | ICAR-CIBA | 2021-2024 |
| 3 | Development of brackishwater aquariculture through optimisation of captive breeding protocols of potential and emerging ornamental fish species, technology transfer and livelihood generation (PI - Dr. M. Kailasam) | ICAR-CIBA | 2021-2024 |
| 4 | Brackishwater integrated multi-trophic cage aquaculture of different species, Pearlspot breeding & Crab box culture in diverse rearing systems for alternate livelihood and Societal development of mangrove-based fisher folks of Maharashtra (PI- Shri. Pankaj Amrut Patil). | Mangrove Foundation, Govt. of Maharastra | 2020-2022 |
| 5 | Pilot Project on cage culture of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer and Pearlspot Etroplus suratensis in brackishwater creeks as an alternate livelihood for coastal fisher folks of southern Gujarat (PI- Shri. Pankaj Amrut Patil). | Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat | 2022-2023 |
Research projects – completed recently
| No | Title | Funded By | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elucidation of molecular mechanism of dopamine action on final oocyte maturation of goldspot mullet (Liza paraia, Hamilton, 1822) (PI - Dr. Prem Kumar) | DBT | 2018-2021 |
| 2 | Application of improved techniques for captive maturation, assessment of reproductive biology, system development of induced breeding, larval rearing and seed production of brackishwater candidate finfish species (PI: Dr. M. Kailasam). | ICAR-CIBA | 2018-2021 |
| 3 | Development and evaluation of novel culture technologies for candidate brackishwater finfishes for sustainable aquaculture (PI: Dr. M. Makesh). | ICAR-CIBA | 2018-2021 |
Laboratories/facilities
- Multi-species finfish hatchery, Muttukadu Experimental Station- ICAR-CIBA
- First brackishwater/marine finfish hatchery of India
- Production capacity-2 million
- Species produced are
- Asian seabass
- Milkfish
- Pearl spot
- Grey mullet
- Red snapper
- Spotted scat
- Moonfish
- Orange chromide
- Fish and shellfish biology laboratory
Patents granted / applied
- Vijayan, K.K., Kumaraguru Vasagam, K.P., Ambasankar, K., Krishna Sukumaran, Syamadayal, J., Kailasam, M., Balachandran, S. Modular system and method for getting repeated spawning and higher fry production in pearl spot fish (Application number: 201641001060dated12/01/2016) - Patent No. 344940; Granted 25/08/2020 (Shared with nutrition division)
- Bera A, Kailasam M, Mandal B, Ambasankar K, Makesh M, Sukumaran K, Kumararaja P, Padiyar A, Vijayan KK. (2020). Hormone Pellet Implant Formulation and Methodology for Inducing Maturation and Spawning in Milkfish (Chanos Chanos)" (Application number: 202041003962, dated: 07/02/2020) is filed & under examination. (NBA filed)