India’s 1st ornamental fish technology park in city

Jayathilak said that after its completion, the technology park would be handed over to breeders and farmers of ornamental fish on lease for three years. Aquatic Rainbow Technology Park (ARTP), an ultra-modern facility exclusively for breeding ornamental fish, is being developed by Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI), Ponneri with Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) as part of the steering committee for the project.

The MPEDA Chairman said the Rs 10-crore facility would be equipped with advanced infrastructure and technical expertise for boosting production of high value ornamental fish species — both indigenous and exotic. It would also develop breeding technologies for high value indigenous ornamental fish species and ensure quality fish seeds in bulk quantities, Jayathilak said during the three-day Aqua Aquaria India (AAI) 2017, which concluded on Tuesday. 

He said MPEDA has also been extending financial assistance and technical expertise to various states in freshwater and marine ornamentals. “States and union territories like Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep have also chalked out plans on hi-tech ornamental fish hatchery. MPEDA can assist these states in the execution of their plans by providing complete technical assistance,” he said. 

Speaking to DTNext, Finance Minister D Jayakumar termed the ARTP project as former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s dream project, which is coming up at Madhavaram and is executed by FCRI run by Tamil Nadu Fisheries University. “The project, once operational, will put the state on the global map for ornamental fish market, and take on Singapore, which now tops in ornamental fish sale. The ARTP project will provide end to end solution for ornamental fish farmers who will be trained in technical expertise right from breeding till the point of sale,” Jayakumar, who also holds the portfolio of Fisheries, added.