Lok Sabha Question No. 1097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Open Sea Cage Farming under Blue Revolution
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMNAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1097

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2018

## Open Sea Cage Farming under Blue Revolution

## 1097. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  promote  'Open  sea  cage  farming'  under  'Blue Revolution' Scheme, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad has provided financial assistance  of  Rs.114.73  lakh  to  the  Central  Marine  Fisheries  Research  Institute  (CMFRI)  in  2011  for implementation of a technology upgradation project on demonstration of open sea cage farming;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the recommendations therein;
- (d) whether the Government has a proposal to establish open sea cage farming across the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits likely to be accrued therefrom?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE& FARMER's WELFARE: (SMT. KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare,  Department  of  Animal Husbandry,  Dairying  and  Fisheries  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  on  Blue  Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries provides financial assistance  to the maritime State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) for promotion of mariculture activities namely Open Sea Cage Culture, Seaweed Cultivation, Bivalve Culture and Pearl Culture.
- (b) & (c):  Yes, Madam. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad had in October, 2008  sanctioned  and  released  an  amount  of  Rs  114.73  lakh  to  the  Central  Marine  Fisheries  Research Institute  (CMFRI),  Kochi  for  setting  up  of  14  floating  open  sea  cages  as  demonstration  farms.  It  is reported that the entire operations of the 14 cages were performed through the fishermen group/societies/ villages under CMFRI scientist and technical officers at nine locations namely Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai, Veraval, Balasore, Srikakulam, Kakinada, Kannyakumari and Chennai.

The main recommendations of the demonstration studies as reported are; (i) 100gm size juvenile fish is optimum for stocking in the cages, (ii) Seabass and Snappers can be co-cultured in the same cage for proper utilisation of the bottom and left over feed, (iii) Fattening of lobster in cages for short duration is a very lucrative business. Lobster can be grown upto maturity stage and (iv) Mullets, Chanos, Etroplus and high value herbivorous fishes can be polycultured.

- (d) & (e): Yes,  Madam.  Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  on  Blue  Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries, during the past 3 financial year from 2014-15 to 2016-17,  Central financial assistance to the tune of Rs.1062.72 lakh has been provided to intended State Governments and UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Andaman & Nicobar Administration for establishment of a total of 670 Nos of open sea cages. The broad benefits of open sea cage culture are; to create alternative livelihood to the fishermen, enhancement of marine fish production, income and employment generation to the local fishermen along with other multiple indirect benefits.

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