ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), India's national marine fisheries research body based in Kochi, Kerala, has supplied one million hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to Maharashtra over the past six months, in a bid to promote sustainable coastal farming and open alternative livelihood channels for fishing and tribal communities along the state's coastline. The latest consignment comprised five lakh seeds, taking the cumulative total to one million.

In addition, CMFRI has supplied one lakh oyster seeds to the state, further expanding the scope of the bivalve farming initiative.

Source of the Seeds

The seeds were produced at CMFRI's bivalve hatchery located at its Vizhinjam Regional Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, under the Union government's flagship aquaculture scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The green mussel seeds measure between 2 and 4 millimetres at the time of supply.

What the Initiative Aims to Achieve

'The initiative is aimed at translating marine fisheries research into livelihood opportunities by promoting sustainable bivalve farming along the Maharashtra coast,' said CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George. The programme intends to shift coastal communities away from total dependence on naturally available shellfish stocks by providing a consistent, scientifically produced seed supply.

The supplied seeds will be used to develop farming activities with the support of Maharashtra's Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation. The project is backed by the Union government's Department of Fisheries, and also seeks to explore the integration of shellfish farming with mangrove conservation efforts.

Training and Capacity Building

CMFRI has trained 30 officials of Maharashtra's Mangrove Cell in nursery rearing and farming techniques for both mussels and oysters. The training programme was led by a scientific team headed by Principal Scientist Dr M.K. Anil. According to Anil, the trained officials are expected to facilitate technology transfer to local communities and provide hands-on guidance to prospective farmers.

Why Bivalve Farming Matters

Bivalves — which include mussels and oysters — are filter-feeding shellfish that can be cultivated in suitable coastal waters with relatively limited external inputs once farms are established, provided water quality and environmental conditions remain favourable. CMFRI's hatchery technology directly addresses a longstanding constraint in shellfish farming: the seasonal and location-dependent availability of natural seeds. A dependable hatchery-produced supply allows farmers to plan cultivation more consistently and reduces the risk of seasonal shortfalls.

The institute noted that combining mussel and oyster farming could diversify income sources for coastal fishers and tribal communities. However, actual livelihood benefits will depend on the adoption rate of farming practices, seed survival rates, and the development of viable markets for harvested produce.

With Maharashtra's coastline stretching over 720 kilometres, the initiative positions the state as a potential growth hub for marine bivalve aquaculture — an industry that has remained largely underdeveloped compared to India's southeastern coast.