ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai and the Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Goa signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the responsible development of brackishwater aquaculture in Goa and to boost its farmed fish-shrimp production in the State on 5.11.2025. Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai and Dr. Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries, Goa signed the MOU in the presence of Shri. Prasanna Acharya IAS, Secretary for Fisheries, Government of Goa at Goa Legislature Secretariat, Alto-Porvorim, Goa. Through this MoU, CIBA would initiate mapping of coastal and inland saline resources of Goa, demonstrations of super intensive precision and natural shrimp farming, development of brackishwater candidate species cage farming clusters, demonstration of finfish and shellfish livelihood culture models, training of fisheries officials and farmers, etc, in partnership with Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Goa. This partnership would aid in utilising the untapped potential for aquaculture by developing appropriate brackishwater aquaculture production systems and location specific farming practices suitable for the state.
Shri. Prasanna Acharya IAS, Secretary for Fisheries, Government of Goa emphasized to adopt new and innovative brackishwater farming technologies for high values species such as seabass, shrimps and mud crabs with focus to augmenting production, livelihoods and aqua-tourism.
Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai expressed that the shrimp and seabass are popular in Goa with the high market demand especially in multi-cuisines. He also highlighted, Goa with 131 km coastline had good potential for development of brackishwater aquaculture, can make significant progress in the fish-shrimp production and livelihood generation through brackishwater aquaculture.
Dr. Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries, Goa expressed that brackishwater aquaculture can provide alternative livelihood options to coastal fishermen including women with more fish production, income and employment generation in the state.
Dr Akshaya Panigrahi, Principal Scientist & OIC, CIBA-Navsari Gujarat Research Centre, Shri. Pankaj Patil, Scientist, CIBA-NGRC, and Shri. Chandrakant Velip, Deputy Director, Fisheries, Dr. Smita Mazumdar, Deputy Director, Fisheries, Smt. Zigyasa Murkar, Asst. Superintendent Fisheries, Government of Goa coordinated the programme.
