draft national policy on Mariculture
- Union government directed the CMFRI to frame a specific policy in this regard. Accordingly, a draft policy is ready and the first round of discussions on the draft policy have begun.
- The policy aims to enhance mariculture production in the country and increase income and employment opportunities in a sustainable way, in addition to promoting entrepreneurship by facilitating technical and financial inputs.
- It was formulated by an expert committee formed by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) with A Gopalakrishnan, Director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), as Chairman. It has mooted mariculture zones by demarcating special areas in the sea for activities such as cage farming, bivalve farming, pen culture, seaweed culture, hatcheries and nurseries based on scientific criteria.
- The policy has also suggested farming of genetically modified (GM) species in closed mariculture systems.
