KOCHI:
Setting a new standard, a demonstration farm of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), which works under the MPEDA, has produced 15 tons of seabass from just one hectare area, an initiative that would encourage the farming community to grow this delectable fish as an alternative species for shrimp aquaculture and earn lucrative prices from its huge demand in domestic and foreign markets.
The demonstration farm of MPEDA-RGCA, established at Karaikal in Union Territory of Pondicherry, had stocked seabass seeds (1.5 to 2.0 cm) produced from the hatchery in 1 Ha area. In a period of mere 10 months, 15 tons of fish having an average body weight of 1.2 to 1.5 kg were raised.
The fishes were fed with artificial floating pellet feeds and the food conversion ratio (FCR) was found to be extremely encouraging at 1:1.8. The production cost was Rs. 300 per kg and the fishes were sold at farm gate price of Rs. 420 to 450 per kg. A profit of Rs. 17 lakh was earned from the seabass fish produced from 1 Ha demo farm area.
Enthused by the results of the demonstration farm, MPEDA Chairman K S Srinivas observed: “Seabass is a BOSS of diversified aquaculture! It will induce aquaculture farmers to diversify their cultivation choices, especially as an alternative to shrimp farming.”
The harvest of seabass was initiated through a function held at the demo farm, and was attended the MPEDA chairman, who is also President of RGCA. Among others at the function were District Collector, Karaikal; Director, MPEDA; Director (Marketing), MPEDA; and PD, RGCA. The Executive Committee members of RGCA, Fisheries Department officials of the Pondicherry Government, MPEDA-RGCA officials, and farmers were also present.
The RGCA, headquartered at Sirkali in Tamil Nadu, functions as the R&D arm of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), and is involved in sophisticated and high-end research work on diversified species for aquaculture like seabass, mud crab, GIFT, pompano, and cobia.
Seabass (Lates calcarifer) is traditionally produced as plate fish for the restaurant trade, but it is now largely being sold as fillets for direct sales to the major supermarkets. It is an ideal fish for farming in freshwater, brackish water and saline waters, and can be cultured in open pond as well as in cages. It has white flaky flesh and milk flavour, is highly preferred by consumers and fetches around Rs.400 to 500 in local markets. It is having good demand and value in both domestic and export market.
RGCA is operating a three million fry/fingerlings capacity state-of the art seabass hatchery at Thoduvai in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district, and this is the first of its kind in India. So far 18 million seeds have been produced and supplied to the farming community across the countryas an alternative species for shrimp aquaculture.
For farmers in the east coast of the country, especially those in Kerala, the Seabass seeds from the RGCA hatchery in Tamil Nadu are brought and reared to fingerlings in MPEDA-RGCA Multispecies Aquaculture complex ( MAC), Vallarpadam and supplied to the farming community at affordable cost.
