The Field Experimental Station of ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture at Muttukkadu (MES), outskirts of Chennai spreads out in 121 acres, including 90.45 acres of water spread. MES has a boundary of the Bay of Bengal on the eastern side and Muttukkadu Backwater on the southern side and the magnificent East Coast Road (ECR) on its western side keeps it as a unique scientific research facility on a highway. MES houses a multi-species finfish hatchery, shrimp hatchery with the state of the art in-house facilities for live feeds production, brood stock holding facilities, larval rearing units, RAS facilities, etc. in 29.50 acres of land area. The newer research programmes of the institute targeting diversification of species and farming systems such as RAS, Biofloc based shrimp farming, and associated feed testing facilities necessitated additional land area. Out of the total land area at the hatchery complex, about 2.0 acres of land has been locked as a mini-island on the western side of CIBA finfish hatchery. This area could not be utilized due to a lack of approach to this hinterland. Now, a new eco-friendly wooden bridge has been constructed over the backwater lagoon without affecting the tidal movement of the water and inaugurated for use for the CIBA’s R&D activities on 2nd November 2020, by Dr. KK Vijayan, Director CIBA. As an inaugural activity, a biofloc based pearlspot fish nursery rearing unit was initiated with the release of fish fingerlings. During this occasion, the Director addressed the scientists on the importance of protecting our resources and optimally utilizing them for undertaking need based research. He also encouraged the young scientists to plan and set-up new research initiatives in this new facility relevance to the rapidly expanding brackishwater aquaculture. Dr. K. Ambasankar, Nodal officer, who was instrumental in this timely action, coordinated the inaugural program. All the heads and in-charges, scientists, other staff and research scholars of CIBA participated and graced the event.
