CMFRI claims success in mass seed production of fish species Business Standard dated 21st October 2016

In a major breakthrough, scientists of a city-based premier research institute claim to have succeeded in the mass scale seed production of orange spotted grouper (Epinephelus coiodes), a highly demanded fish species in the market. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) claimed that the achievement is the first-of-its-kind in India and the hatchery seed production of the species, carried out by the Vishakapatanam Regional Centre of CMFRI, is expected to boost the sea cage culture enterprises in the country. The orange spotted grouper is a commercially important carnivorous fish with high market demand in many parts of the world, scientists said. Senior Scientist at Vishakapatanam Regional Centre of CMFRI, Shubhadeep Ghosh said the institute made this achievement after the continuous efforts of scientists and technical staff for the last two years to enhance the survival rate of the larvae. "Initial success in seed production of the fish was achieved in 2014, but the survival rate of the larvae was very low. After manipulating different water quality and feeding protocols, enhanced survival rate with 10 per cent was achieved this time," he said