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Bengal to set up ‘cage culture’ for rearing fish in the deep sea
A new method of deep-sea pisciculture is soon going to be introduced in Bengal – cage culture. As the name suggests, the practice consists of culturing fish inside big floating cages in the middle of the sea. This type of fish culture is being successfully practiced in Norway, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, etc.
The project is in the pilot stage. Two 4.5 metre-diameter cages made out of GI pipes and Netlon mesh have been set up 2 km off the coast of Mandarmani. The cages are covered with nets to prevent sea birds from feeding on the fish. They are tied down with buoys to provide stability. Each cage is going to last eight to ten years.
Hatchlings for the pilot project would be released in September, which would grow to the right size – 1 to 1.5 kg – within six months. Mostly, bhetki and pomfret would be reared in these cages, since these are fishes in high demand and are costly as well. Such deep-sea culture in large numbers would bring down the prices.
This is also being encouraged to bring down the pressure on the lakes and inland hatcheries; culture in the open seas would have no environmental impact.
Scientists are also researching the viability of culturing pearls in the cages.
In the State, the West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences is in charge of the project, which is a part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-led All India Network Project on Mariculture. Five other States are part of the project.
