KOCHI: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), which is celebrating the platinum jubilee year, is coming out with a mobile application that will help its users identify fishes.
A statement issued by the premier institution said the application would help its users identify as many as 369 ornamental and edible fish varieties. Governor P. Sathasivam will launch the application on Saturday. He will also inaugurate the platinum jubilee celebrations of the institute at 2.30 p.m. the same day. The mobile app can be downloaded from the CMFRI website www.cmfri.org.in after its launch.
The app can be loaded on all smartphones. It has an easy search portal with common names and is useful for the public, researchers, and students. The 369 fish varieties on the data list are from 66 families. Though the app is not based on taxonomic characters, it can be used for scientific purposes as it has been placed on a classification plane.
A CMFRI statement said grouper fishes, which are associated with coral reefs, have great commercial value, and their identification was of great importance in the international market. The app will specifically be of immense use to exporters, who have to identify fish varieties.
The app can be used without Internet connection, and it makes way for a simple process that will help its users identify fishes that otherwise look alike.
The application was developed by Rekha J. Nair, principal scientist in the demersal fisheries section of the CMFRI.
ICAR Deputy Director General J.K. Jena will preside over the inaugural function.
