CMFRI launches open-sea mussel longline farming unit at Vizhinjam

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) unit at Vizhinjam here has launched its first full-fledged open-sea mussel longline farming unit.

The initiative - supported by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, under the ‘Development of pilot-scale open-sea eco-mussel farms in India: a Blue Growth Project’ - is aimed at developing sustainable mussel farming technologies and creating additional livelihood opportunities for coastal fishing communities.

Shashi Tharoor, MP, launched the project at Vizhinjam on Wednesday. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the local ‘Vizhinjam Mungal Thozhilali Kshema Sangom.’

ICAR-CMFRI’s Vizhinjam Regional Centre said it has developed advanced mussel hatchery and micro-nursery technologies, enabling large-scale production of mussel seed and reducing dependence on natural seed resources.

The project is being launched at Vizhinjam following successful preliminary farming trials along the Kanyakumari coast. Building on these results, the Vizhinjam unit incorporates 20 specially designed 300-litre HDPE floats, parallel mainlines, suspended mussel culture ropes and an anchoring system.

The demonstration will assess mussel growth, production potential and economic viability under local open-sea conditions, with the active participation of the traditional diving community, ICAR-CMFRI officials said.