India’s Big Fish Farming First – Giant Trevally Success
Scientists at the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have done something no one in the world has ever done before – they have raised the Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis), a valuable sea fish, all the way from tiny babies (larvae) to healthy adults, without catching them from the wild.
And that’s not all – for the first time in India, they have made captive-bred seeds of this fish, which means baby fish ready to grow in farms.
These fish were grown in brackishwater cages at Kollam. Brackishwater is a mix of fresh water and salty sea water. The Giant Trevally grew super fast and could handle different salt levels even better than popular fish like silver pompano and cobia.
In 2024, these baby fish were given to farmers in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Now, more coastal families can earn money from fish farming without harming the ocean’s natural fish populations.
Why It Is Important:
1. It Protects wild fish
2. It Helps fishermen and their families earn more
3. It Keeps oceans healthy
4. It Makes India a leader in fish farming
This is a proud moment for India and a big step in making our blue economy – the part of the economy that comes from the sea – more sustainable and science-driven.
