**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the operations and impact of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Fisheries Research Institutes and their regional centers. Specifically, it highlights four operational regional centers in Andhra Pradesh and details the nationally relevant technologies developed and disseminated, with a focus on the state's impactful work over the past three years. Key action items include leveraging existing infrastructure and government acts to enhance aquaculture quality and capacity building.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ICAR Fisheries Research Infrastructure:**
* Eight resource-specific Fisheries Research Institutes operate nationally, supported by thirty research stations/centers.
* Four regional fisheries research centers are currently active in Andhra Pradesh: Kakinada Regional Centre (ICAR-CIFE), Regional Research Centre (ICAR-CIFA) in Vijayawada, Regional Research Centre (ICAR-CMFRI) in Visakhapatnam, and Regional Research Centre (ICAR-CIFT) in Visakhapatnam.
* There are no current proposals for establishing additional ICAR centers in Andhra Pradesh.
* **Technological Advancements and Dissemination:**
* ICAR Institutes have developed technologies that enhance productivity, sustainable water use, species diversification, cost-effective feeds, fish health management, genetic improvement, AMR mitigation, responsible fishing, and value addition.
* In Andhra Pradesh, over the past three years, impact includes dissemination of genetically improved freshwater species (Jayanti rohu, AhR Jayanti rohu, Amrit catla, Mahamagur, CIFA GI Scampi).
* A Super-Intensive Precision Shrimp Farming initiative has been launched by ICAR-CIBA and NFDB.
* Pangasius breeding and seed production technologies have been demonstrated.
* Indigenous ornamental fish breeding has been showcased.
* Integrated seaweed-shrimp winter cropping, specifically co-culture of *Gracilaria salicornia* with *P. vannamei*, has been advanced to promote diversification and coastal livelihoods.
* **Government Initiatives and Collaboration in Andhra Pradesh:**
* The Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority Act, 2020, regulates aquaculture and ensures quality inputs.
* The state conducts training programs, on-field demonstrations, farmer field schools, and capacity-building initiatives under PMMSY.
* Awareness is raised through technical literature and advisories via ICAR regional centers, State Fisheries Department, Fisheries University, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
* ICAR institutes and centers collaborate with other government departments and agencies to develop and disseminate need-based technologies.
* Over the past three years, technical support, training, and demonstrations have been provided to over 40,000 stakeholders, including those in Andhra Pradesh.
* **Department of Fisheries Collaboration:**
* The Department of Fisheries collaborates with state universities and the private sector for public-private research partnerships.
* Partnerships exist with national programs like NSPAAD and NRCP for aquatic animal health management and export standards compliance.
* The State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada, collaborates with ICAR institutes, the State Fisheries University, and private entities for technology validation, broodstock development, skill enhancement, and best practice adoption.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Farmers and Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Benefited from the dissemination of genetically improved freshwater species, Pangasius breeding and seed production technologies, and indigenous ornamental fish breeding techniques. They also benefit from advanced integrated seaweed-shrimp winter cropping.
* **Action Required:** Continue to adopt and implement the demonstrated technologies to enhance productivity and livelihoods.
* **ICAR Fisheries Research Institutes and Regional Research Centres**
* **Impact:** Continue to develop and disseminate nationally relevant technologies, and provide technical support and training. They are instrumental in implementing government initiatives and fostering public-private partnerships.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and expand the development and dissemination of innovative technologies, and continue collaborative efforts with state government agencies and the private sector.
* **Government of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Leverages the work of ICAR institutes and regional centers to implement its aquaculture regulations, quality input assurance, and capacity-building programs. The state benefits from enhanced productivity and diversified livelihoods within its fisheries sector.
* **Action Required:** Continue to enact and enforce relevant acts such as the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority Act, 2020, and effectively implement training and awareness programs using ICAR resources.
* **Stakeholders in Andhra Pradesh (including those reached by training and demonstrations)**
* **Impact:** Over 40,000 stakeholders have received technical support, training, and demonstrations, leading to improved knowledge and practices in fisheries and aquaculture.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in and apply the knowledge gained from training, demonstrations, and advisories to improve their respective activities in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
ICAR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which operates fisheries research institutes and centres.
Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority Act, 2020: A key act enacted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to regulate aquaculture and ensure quality inputs.
PMMSY: A program under which the Government of Andhra Pradesh conducts training programs, on-field demonstrations, and capacity-building initiatives.
NSPAAD: National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases, a national program the Department of Fisheries collaborates with.
NRCP: National Residue Control Programme, a national program the Department of Fisheries collaborates with.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Fisheries Research Institutes and Regional
Research Centres
Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 1:57PM by PIB Delhi
As reported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), eight resource specific Fisheries
Research Institutes operate across the country, supported by their research stations and centres (thirty
research stations/Centres), located in diverse ecological zones (Annexure-1).
(b): The ICAR has reported that four regional fisheries research centres are currently operating in Andhra
Pradesh. These include the Kakinada Regional Centre of the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Education
(CIFE), which also maintains a field centre at Balabhadrapuram; the Regional Research Centre of the
ICAR–Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) at Vijayawada; the Regional Research Centre of
the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at Visakhapatnam; and the Regional
Research Centre of the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), also located in
Visakhapatnam. ICAR has further indicated that there is no current proposal for establishing additional
centres under ICAR in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
(c): ICAR Fisheries Research Institutes have developed nationally relevant technologies that strengthen
productivity, sustainable water use, species and system diversification, cost-effective feeds, fish health
management, genetic improvement, AMR mitigation, responsible fishing, and value addition.
In Andhra Pradesh, their work over the past three years has been especially impactful. Genetically improved
freshwater species such as Jayanti rohu, AhR Jayanti rohu, Amrit catla, Mahamagur, and CIFA GI Scampi
have been disseminated to farmers. A major initiative on Super-Intensive Precision Shrimp Farming has
been launched by ICAR-CIBA and NFDB at Moolapolam, Srikakulam, to support commercial-scale
adoption. Pangasius breeding and seed production technologies have been demonstrated to farmers and
entrepreneurs, while indigenous ornamental fish breeding has been showcased in East Godavari. The state
has also advanced integrated seaweed–shrimp winter cropping, particularly the co-culture of Gracilaria
salicornia with P. vannamei in Srikakulam, promoting diversification and strengthening coastal livelihoods.
(d): The Government of Andhra Pradesh has reported that the State has enacted key acts to regulate
aquaculture and ensure quality inputs, including the Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development
Authority Act, 2020. It conducts training programs, on-field demonstrations, farmer field schools, exposure
visits, and capacity-building initiatives under PMMSY. Awareness is raised through technical literature and
advisories, implemented via ICAR regional centers, the State Fisheries Department, Fisheries University,
and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Andhra Pradesh. ICAR has also indicated that its fisheries research
institutes and centres have been developing and disseminating need-based technologies across various
aspects of fisheries and aquaculture jointly with other Government Departments/agencies. Over the past
three years, they have provided technical support, training, and demonstrations to more than 40,000
stakeholders, including those in Andhra Pradesh.(e): The Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that the Department of Fisheries collaborates with
state universities and the private sector for public-private research partnerships. The Department of
Fisheries works with national programs like National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases
(NSPAAD)and National Residue Control Programme (NRCP) to strengthen aquatic animal health
management, disease diagnostics, and compliance with export standards. Additionally, through the State
Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada, it partners with ICAR institutes, the State Fisheries
University, and private entities for technology validation, broodstock development, skill enhancement, and
adoption of best practices.
Annexure-1
Statement ‘Fisheries Research Institutes and Regional Research Centres’:
Institutes States represented
Headquarters Regional/Research Centres
Deemed 1. Central Institute of Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh (Powarkheda)
University Fisheries Education Andhra Pradesh (Kakinada)
(CIFE), Mumbai Haryana (Rohtak)
West Bengal (Kolkata)
Bihar (Motipur)Research 2. Central Marine Kerala Tamil Nadu (Mandapam, Chennai &
Institutes Fisheries Research Tuticorin)
Institute (CMFRI), Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam)
Kochi Gujarat (Veraval)
Maharashtra (Mumbai)
Karnataka (Karwar and
Mangalore)
Kerala (Calicut and Vizhinjam)
West Bengal (Digha)
3. Central Inland West Bengal Karnataka (Bangalore)
Fisheries Research Uttar Pradesh (Allahabad)
Institute (CIFRI), Assam (Guwahati)
Kolkata
4. Central Institute of Kerala Maharashtra (Mumbai)
Fisheries Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam)
Technology (CIFT), Gujarat (Veraval)
Kochi
5. Central Institute of Odisha Karnataka (Bangalore)
Freshwater West Bengal (Rahara)
Aquaculture Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada)
(CIFA), Punjab (Bathinda)
Bhubaneswar
6. Central Institute of Tamil Nadu West Bengal (Kakdwip)
Brackishwater Gujarat (Navsari)
Aquaculture
(CIBA), Chennai
7. Central Institute of Uttarakhand Experimental station at Champawat,
Coldwater Fisheries Uttarakhand
Research (CICFR),
Bhimtal
8. National Bureau of Uttar Pradesh Kerala (Kochi)
Fish Genetic
Resources
(NBFGR),
Lucknow
This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh
alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked.
*****JP
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