Mapping of potential sea-cage farming sites through spatial modelling: Preliminary operative suggestions to aid sustainable mariculture expansion in India

Divu, D and Mojjada, Suresh Kumar and Muktha, M and Azeez, P A and Tade, Mayur Shivdas and Subramanian, Aarsha and Shree, Jai and Chellappan, Anulekshmi and Suresh Babu, P P and Anuraj, A and Rohit, Prathibha and Ghosh, Shubhadeep and Megarajan, Sekhar and Ranjan, Ritesh and Rajesh, N and Ambarish, Gop P and Swathi Lekshmi, P S and Nazar, A K A and Johnson, B and Tamilmani, G and Anikuttan, K K and Kalidas, C and Dash, Gyanaranjan and Pradhan, Rajesh Kumar and Koya, Mohammed and Ignatius, Boby and Suresh, V V R and Gopalakrishnan, A (2023) Mapping of potential sea-cage farming sites through spatial modelling: Preliminary operative suggestions to aid sustainable mariculture expansion in India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 70 (4). pp. 1-17. ISSN 0970 - 6011

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Abstract

Sea cage farming in marine open waters is considered as the most viable technique in Indian mariculture to enhance production. Owing to the support of the government in research and development, and policy initiatives, marine cage farming is progressing steadily in the country. Technological guidance from research institutions and financing under the ambitious “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” and blue growth mission objectives have inspired stakeholders and fisheries administrators in maritime states to explore open sea cage culture. Site selection is a key parameter affecting the success of cage culture systems and, technically analysed geo-referenced demarcation of spatial information is necessary for minimising the risks. Thus, in the light of rising demand for spatial allocation of coastal areas, the present study identifies and aggregates locations within 3 km of the coastline, that have the potential for sea cage farming operations in the country. The site suitability was examined based on optimal standards required for the prospective candidate species selected for mariculture in India. The locations were vectorised in a GIS platform, and the potential areas available for sea cage installations were demarcated. An optimised site suitability schema was developed for the spatial demarcation of potential site selection.The preliminary results identified 134 sites covering a total area of 46,823.2 ha suitable for marine cage culture along Indian territorial waters. Among the coastal states, the top three states holding the maximum area suitable for sea cage farming are Andhra Pradesh (11,792 ha), Gujarat (11,572.2 ha) and Tamil Nadu (7,673 ha). It is envisaged that spatial suitability demarcation even on this pilot scale will accelerate the expansion of sea cage farming in the country.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	GIS Mapping; Mariculture; PMMSY; Sea cage farming; Site suitability; Spatial planning
Subjects:	Oceanography > Satellite tagging Aquaculture > Cage culture Oceanography > Remote sensing Aquaculture > Mariculture Marine Fisheries > Trophic Modelling
Divisions:	CMFRI-Veraval
Depositing User:	Arun Surendran
Date Deposited:	02 Jan 2024 06:47
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2024 06:37
URI:	http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/17867

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