Aquaculture expo in Mangaluru from today

The fourth edition of the three-day Aqua Aquaria India 2017, a national exhibition and conference on aquaculture, will be held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru from May 14. It is being organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry dealing with promotion of marine product export and allied activities. The programme will deliberate upon recent advances in aquaculture and ornamental fisheries sector, said MP Nalin Kumar Kateel.

First time in coast
Briefing reporters here on Saturday, he said that it will be the first Aqua Aquaria India show in the west coast of India. “Diversification in Sustainable Aquaculture” is the theme of the exposition. Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj will inaugurate the programme. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel will deliver the keynote address while Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries secretary Devendra Chaudhry will be the chief guest.

New steps
MPEDA secretary Sreekumar said that the event will showcase the latest strides in aquaculture and ornamental fish breeding and rearing technology to encourage diversification and intensification in a sustainable manner. It will provide a platform for aquaculture farmers and ornamental fish breeders to gather latest knowledge in farming practices. The objective of the show is to motivate farmers to adopt the latest technologies for enhancing aquaculture and ornamental fish production and exports and creating employment, he said.

About 3,000 delegates from the country and abroad are expected to participate in the mega event where 200 stalls will display various production and harvest techniques, machinery and accessories in the export-oriented aquaculture as well as ornamental fishery sectors. The delegates will comprise farmers, entrepreneurs, hatchery operators, feed manufacturers, input suppliers, manufacturers and suppliers of various aquaculture and aquarium implements, from around the world. Experts in aquaculture from India and Australia, USA, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Israel will speak during the technical sessions on topics of current interest.

Seafood production
As for the seafood industry, India is the second largest aquaculture producer in the world, the second largest exporter of shrimps to Europe and the largest exporter of shrimps to the US. Aquaculture to contributes about 70% of the total marine products export earnings of India. The ornamental fish and aquatic plant industry is fast gaining importance due to its tremendous economic opportunities and prospects.

The expo will have a live demonstration by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture on how fish species are cultured. It will have a demonstration on the culturing of eight fish species including Florida Pomfret, Cobia, shrimp and mud crab. The public are allowed to the show from Sunday afternoon through an entry pass of Rs 100 for adults and Rs 20 for students with valid school identity cards.