With catch from sea dwindling and seafood exports becoming aquaculture shrimp centric, efforts are underway to culture other fish with potential for export and local consumption like cobia, pompano, groupers and sea bass. The first deep sea big cage culture in India has been launched in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with the help of local fishermen. The large-scale offshore fish farm project initiated by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), the research wing under the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), is expected to produce 90 tonnes of cobia in a year. “This will be spread to other parts of Kerala and the country. All these fishes have good export potential. We need more volumes to increase exports,” said MPEDA chairman Leena Nair. The western coast, especially Kerala and Karnataka coasts, are said to be ideal for cage culture because of the relatively calm weather. Cage culture has assumed significance as aquaculture also seems to be in trouble. After touching a high of Rs.33,000 crore last year, Indian seafood exports have taken a hit this year, with first six months’ shipments showing a 14% drop with aquaculture shrimp production falling due to diseases and floods. Almost 73% of the total seafood exports are constituted by frozen shrimps now. Earlier, RGCA had experimented with small cages. The size of the cage has got bigger with intention of growing more fishes. In the deep sea cage culture, launched off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram, the cages have a circumference of 12.7 metre and are put at depth of 30 metres. The cage accessories are imported
from Taiwan. RGCA produces the seeds of cobia and other fishes suitable for cage culture. “Cobia, with white flesh is a much sought after fish in the US and Europe and lends itself well for grilling and fillets. It is a delicacy overseas just like seer fish is in India,” said YC Thampi Sam Raj, project director of RGCA.

(Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 01 February 2016)