ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai has developed Pearlspot (the famous Karimeen fish of Kerala) hatchery and seed production unit at Bhuigaon, Vasai as a livelihood activity under the Mangrove Conservation and Livelihood Development scheme in collaboration with Mangrove Foundation, Mumbai.
On average Pearlspot fish weighs around 200 gm and is a delicacy in Kerala and its seed have good demand on the West Coast of India. Hence, CIBA has introduced the same technology to the Mangrove SHG of Vasai.
In due course, the CIBA has also selected coastal villages in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg districts and Vasai is the first in the State for the livelihood development for farmers said Pankaj Patil, Scientist and Project Incharge, CIBA, Navsari Research Centre.
"Under this project, Palghar district is the first Pearlspot hatchery and seed production unit and is allotted to Swami Self-Help Group (SHG) of Bhuigaon on 90% subsidy and within a short period and in its first attempt, the SHG produced and sold 3900 Pearlspot seed with a modest income of Rs. 60,000," said, Patil. The Swami SHG hatchery has the capacity of production of more than 50,000 Pearlspot seeds per year with an estimated income generation of around Rs 6 lakhs, said the official. Due to this hatchery development, the Pearlspot seed requirement of Palghar district will be met with livelihood support to local tribal fish farmers.
Virendra Tiwary, Executive Director, Mangrove Foundation, Mumbai have allocated the project funding to CIBA for the scientific implementation and development of Pearlspot hatchery units in Maharashtra and the required cost, project material, training and guidance to Swami SHG were provided by the CIBA.
The Swami SHG comprises five men and two women and during the Covid-19 pandemic, adhering to the scientific training and guidance of the scientific team, Swami SHG obtained success in Pearlspot seed production and also got employment opportunities, said Patil.
The Mangrove Foundation is mainly established to protect the mangroves as well as to provide different livelihood opportunities to the villagers staying in mangrove areas said Tiwary and stressed that the scientific demonstration on seed production and farming of Pearlspot fish in Maharashtra will help in boosting the livelihood development of fish farmers of the State. He also said that Pearlspot seeds have huge demand in coastal villages and in future, such hatchery projects with the participation of SHGs will be established in different coastal villages of Maharashtra.
Kerala is known to produce the Pearlspot fish(called Karimeen in Malayalam) and has a big demand in Kerala.
The CIBA has developed the technology of pair breeding of the Pearlspot fish that would help set up hatcheries and produce quality seeds for fish farming in required quantities.
