CMFRI develops fish seed production tech for 3 species

TheCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here has developed theseed productiontechnology of three species of fish, which is expected to boost themariculture industry and seafood export as well.
The successful development of captive brood stock and breeding technology for food fish pink ear emperor, locally known as 'yeri', marine ornamental fish Marcia'santhias and ornamental shrimp camel was the first of its kind in the world, CMFRI said in a statement today.
A scientific team led byDr M K Anil,Scientist-in-charge ofthe VizhinjamResearch Centre of the CMFRI developed the technology after twoyearsof continuous attempt using the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), it said.

The pink ear emperor (Lethrinuslentjan),a high value food fishwith superior flesh qualities and hardy nature, is adelicacy in the domestic market and has got a potential demand in global seafood markets too.
It attains a growth of up to 2 kg and fetchesRs400 to 600 per kg in the domestic market.
"Presently the open sea cage farming in the country is restricted to three or four species of marine fish. With a better growth rate and standardised breeding technology, the pink ear emperor is going to be a candidate species among cage fish farmers", Anil said.

The seed production ofMarcia'santhias(Pseudanthias Marcia), which is a high value marine ornamental fish, was a great achievement asitexhibits a complicated breeding habits, he said.

"The speciesisone of the most expensive reef fishestradedin the marine aquarium exportmarketand fetches around USD30per fish in international market", he said adding that standardisation of larval rearing protocolof this species was also developed at the Centre successfully.
The technology developed by the CMFRI would also help the scientists toproduce the fish seeds artificially without disrupting its ecosystem, he said.
On the camel shrimp (rhynchocinetesdurbanensis), he said it grows up to 4-5 cm in length and fetches USD 10-12 per piece in the international market and Rs 500-Rs 700 in the local market. It was a hot pick among the aquarium hobbyists as well as traders.

"There are no published reports of successful captive breeding of the shrimp available so far" Anil said.