ICAR-CMFRI’s Marine Ornamental Fish Hatchery Inaugurated at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep

10 January 2026, Kochi

A Marine Ornamental Fish Hatchery established at Kavaratti by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was inaugurated today, marking a significant step towards sustainable fisheries development in Lakshadweep.

The project, funded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Government of India, aims at promoting marine ornamental fish enterprises in the Union Territory.

The facility was inaugurated by Shri Deepak Kumar, IAS, Advisor to the Administrator of Lakshadweep, in the presence of senior officials and scientists. Addressing the gathering, the Advisor underlined the importance of sustainable utilization of marine resources and lauded the efforts of ICAR-CMFRI and other stakeholders for introducing advanced hatchery technologies in Lakshadweep.

Dr. Grinson George, Director, ICAR–CMFRI; Shri Raj Thilak, IFS, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, UT of Lakshadweep; Dr George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT; Dr. Giri Sankar, IAS, District Collector, Kavaratti; and Shri K. Buzar Jamhar, DANICS, Director, Department of Fisheries, UT of Lakshadweep.
Dr. George highlighted the scientific and socio-economic relevance of the hatchery and reaffirmed ICAR-CMFRI’s commitment to strengthening sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development in the islands.

The hatchery has been established with the objective of promoting sustainable production of marine ornamental fishes, reducing pressure on natural reef ecosystems, and creating alternative livelihood opportunities for island communities. The state-of-the-art facility includes a broodstock holding unit equipped with a Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), larval and nursery rearing units, and a live feed culture section. It is also supported with essential infrastructure such as deep freezers, refrigerators for feed and medicine storage, microscopes, and an air-conditioned microalgae pure culture unit.

The establishment of the Marine Ornamental Fish Hatchery is expected to play a vital role in capacity building, technology transfer, and the promotion of eco-friendly aquaculture practices, contributing significantly to blue economy initiatives in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

(Source: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi)