ICAR-CIFRI Champions Cage Fish Culture in Maharashtra through National Webinar

Barrackpore, May 2026 : In a major initiative to accelerate sustainable reservoir fisheries development, ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, organised a national webinar on “Cage Fish Culture for Fish Farmers of Maharashtra” today at its headquarters.

The webinar brought together over 125 participants, including fishers, Assistant Fisheries Commissioners and fisheries officials from across Maharashtra, highlighting growing interest in scientific cage aquaculture as a pathway to boost fish production, rural livelihoods and nutritional security.

Inaugurating the programme, Dr. Pradip Dey called upon Maharashtra’s fishers to harness the vast potential of cage culture in medium and large reservoirs. Emphasising the state’s rich inland water resources, he noted that scientifically managed cage aquaculture offers a proven, economically rewarding and environmentally sustainable solution for strengthening reservoir fisheries and rural economies. He also urged participants to act as ambassadors of the ongoing Campaign on Balanced Use of Fertilisers in the catchment areas of reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands to promote ecological balance, improve soil and water health, and ensure sustainable enhancement of fish productivity.

“Cage culture technology has emerged as a scientifically validated, economically viable and environmentally sustainable approach for enhancing fish production from inland open waters. In line with the national vision of the Blue Revolution, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and sustainable inland fisheries development, Maharashtra, with its vast reservoir resources, offers tremendous scope for scaling up cage aquaculture to strengthen fish production, livelihood security, nutritional outcomes and the rural economy,” said Dr. Dey.

Smt. Prerna Deshbhratar, IAS, Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra, appreciated ICAR-CIFRI’s leadership in disseminating farmer-centric fisheries technologies nationwide. She expressed confidence that such science-driven collaborations would significantly advance reservoir fisheries development in Maharashtra through inclusive and sustainable growth.

The programme saw active mobilisation of fisheries officials and fishers across the state under the guidance of Shri Yuvraj Chougale, who encouraged participants to utilise the technical sessions and expert interactions to strengthen field-level adoption of the technology.

Technical deliberations focused on key dimensions of cage fish culture, including cage installation, species selection, feed and reservoir management, economics and sustainability. Scientists of ICAR-CIFRI engaged participants through interactive sessions, addressing practical challenges and field concerns. Dr. A. K. Das presented the prospects and applications of cage culture in inland open waters, while Dr. Armaan Muzaddadi provided comprehensive insights into the scientific, operational, economic and sustainability aspects of cage aquaculture.

With over 2.5 lakh hectares of reservoir resources, nearly half comprising medium and large reservoirs, Maharashtra holds exceptional promise for expansion of cage aquaculture. The organisers also announced plans to translate cage culture manuals into Marathi to ensure wider outreach and adoption among local fishers.

The webinar concluded with a strong call for sustained synergy between research institutions and state fisheries agencies to harness the untapped potential of reservoir fisheries for strengthening livelihoods, ensuring nutritional and food security, and advancing sustainable blue economy growth in Maharashtra.

(Source: ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)