Mandapam (Tamil Nadu): The Mandapam Regional Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has launched a three-day training programme on seaweed and sea cage farming for fishers and fisheries officials from Puducherry and Karaikal districts.

This initiative is part of a pioneering project funded by the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Government of Puducherry, aimed at promoting the farming of commercially important marine finfishes in sea cages integrated with seaweeds along the Puducherry coast. The groundwork for awareness creation, site selection, and beneficiary identification was carried out by ICAR-CMFRI between April and May this year.

The training programme, which commenced on Wednesday, was inaugurated by K. T. Gopinath, Deputy Director of Fisheries & Fishermen Welfare, Ramanathapuram. Dr. Vinod K., Principal Scientist and Head of the Mandapam Regional Centre, presided over the event. Dr. G. Tamilmani, Principal Scientist, delivered the felicitation address.

A total of 16 fisherwomen, two fishermen and four fisheries officials are participating in the programme, which will run till June 20. The sessions include practical demonstrations on seaweed cultivation techniques, sea cage farming protocols, disease management, exposure visits to industries, interactions with successful farmers and marketers, and field visits.

Dr. B. Johnson, Senior Scientist, is the convenor and principal investigator of the project, while Dr. R. Bavithra, Scientist, proposed the vote of thanks.