Union Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS visits ICAR-CMFRI, reviews progress of seaweed farming

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, visited the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre, Tamil Nadu, on 12–13 October 2026 and reviewed the progress of seaweed farming and mariculture research initiatives.

During the visit, the Secretary chaired a meeting on seaweed farming, attended by officials of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, representatives of coastal State Fisheries Departments, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI) and ICAR-CMFRI. Dr Grinson George, Director, ICAR-CMFRI; and Dr Bijay Kumar Behera of NFDB joined the meeting virtually.

Dr Surabhi Rai, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), presented the country’s seaweed development activities, while Dr K. Vinod, Principal Scientist and Head, ICAR-CMFRI Mandapam Regional Centre, outlined the status of seaweed farming and the Institute’s research initiatives, including the Centre of Excellence on Seaweed at Mandapam.

Appreciating the work being done by ICAR-CMFRI, the Secretary called upon the Institute to organise an international conference of seaweed entrepreneurs at Kochi to strengthen collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and farmers. Dr Likhi also visited the seaweed–sea-cage farming site at Munaikkadu and interacted with seaweed farmers, including women Self Help Group members, to understand their farming practices and challenges.

He visited the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) model developed by ICAR-CMFRI, as well as the Centre’s mariculture breeding and seaweed research facilities, where scientists briefed him on ongoing research and seed production of high-value marine fishes.