Fish farmers haul in big catch

Farmers in Kakkamadanthuruthu and Thiruthur under Puthenvelikkara Panchayat are hauling in rich catches of sea bass and pearl spot ahead of Onam through a cage farming programme introduced in these villages by Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences through the integrated fish farming project Samagra Matsyagramam .

Shibu and Barnabas Valiyaparambil in Kakkamadanthuruthu have been into cage farming of sea bass, cobia and pearl spot since 2008. They first launched their venture under an initiative of Kottappuram Integrated Development Society and have now taken up cage farming on a bigger scale.

Harvests are done usually ahead of festivals like Onam, Christmas and Easter, said Mr. Shibu on Thursday.

The farming activities are undertaken under the supervision of scientists from Kufos, who were present at the harvest.

Vice-Chancellor of Kufos B. Madhusoodana Kurup, in a press release issued by the University, said that the success of the cage farming of commercially important species was encouragement for spreading the practices elsewhere in the State.

“The University has introduced eco-friendly farming methods to achieve sustainability,” said Dr. Kurup.