Port Blair: In a major push towards sustainable marine resource management and Blue Economy development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) on Friday launched two significant technology-driven initiatives at its Andaman campus in Sri Vijaya Puram. The projects — a pilot-scale cage culture and fish seed stocking programme, and the deployment of a 3D-printed artificial reef — are aimed at enhancing marine biodiversity, supporting sustainable fisheries and strengthening livelihood opportunities for island fishing communities.
Highlighting the significance of the projects, NIOT Director Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan said the custom-designed 3D-printed artificial reef, developed in collaboration with IIT Guwahati, has been deployed near the coast to promote coral growth and marine habitat regeneration. The reef will be scientifically monitored over the next year to assess its ecological impact. He further announced that NIOT is investing Rs.15 crore to establish a modern fish broodstock facility at its Sri Vijaya Puram campus for breeding and nurturing fish fry for deep-sea cage farming, a move expected to provide a major boost to the Islands’ fishing sector.
The projects are being implemented in coordination with the Fisheries, Forest and Science & Technology Departments of the A&N Administration, with technical inputs from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
Earlier, the initiatives were inaugurated by Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, at the NIOT-Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology (ACOSTI). Interacting with local fishers after distributing fish seed to beneficiaries, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for translating scientific innovations into practical benefits for coastal communities through stronger collaboration between research institutions and the Administration.
