ICAR-CIBA conducted five days hands on training on “Advances in Seed Production and Farming of Brackishwater Finfishes” during 7-11th August, 2023. A total of 17 participants representing Govt. officials, farmers, entrepreneurs, aquaculture consultants, academicians and research scholars from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu states attended the training. The training module consisted of both theory and practical sessions on brackishwater finfish broodstock development, induced breeding, spawning, larval rearing, live feed production, nursery rearing, grow out culture, health management, feed development and feeding strategies, finfish farming for livelihood support, soil and water quality management.
The training programme was inaugurated on 7th August 2023 by Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. During his speech, he briefed the importance of species diversification in brackishwater aquaculture and the potential of finfish farming to augment fish production in the country. Keeping in mind the obvious advantages of shrimp farming, he emphasized the necessity to implement a hand-holding approach by the research institutions, industries and state departments to upscale the technology packages on seed production and farming of candidate finfish species such as seabass, milkfish, pearlspot and grey mullet and to enhance the farm productivity and sustainability. While welcoming the participants, Dr. M. Kailasam, Principal Scientist & Head, Finfish Culture Division stated that brackishwater finfish species are euryhaline in nature and highly suitable for farming in the brackishwater cages and ponds. A field visit was arranged for the trainees to get a farm level exposure of ongoing seabass nursery and cage culture site at Kottaikkadu village, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu and wherein they interacted with the Women Self Help groups about the activities. The training concluded with a valedictory session on 11th August, 2023 with a positive feedback from the trainees and training certificates distributed to the participants.
