Calicut Regional Station main campus
Marine Hatchery complex
Beach hatchery and pond complex
Marine aquarium for public awareness
The Calicut Regional Station of CMFRI is dedicated to several key areas of research aimed at understanding and managing marine fisheries resources effectively. The thrust areas include the assessment of marine fishery resource characteristics, stock assessment of marine fish stocks in Kerala and Lakshadweep, and the development of policy briefs for marine fisheries management in these regions. Additionally, the station focuses on captive breeding and seed production of commercially important fin and shell fishes, as well as the development of sustainable mariculture practices, particularly for bivalve farming. Over the last five years, the station has made significant achievements, including the preparation of databases on catch, effort, and species composition of various exploited fish species, as well as trophodynamics studies. The station has successfully demonstrated the culture of pearl spot using low-cost cages and studied the carrying capacity of mussel farming areas. Moreover, the station has conducted research on the pathology of various marine organisms, including the mangrove red snapper, and recorded stranding events of dolphins, whales, and porpoises, contributing to a comprehensive database of marine mammals in the Malabar area. These achievements underscore the station's commitment to advancing knowledge and promoting sustainable practices in marine fisheries management and mariculture.
- Thrust Areas of Research
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Major Achievements
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Technology or Concepts Developed
- Database on catch, effort and species composition of elasmobranchs, threadfinbreams, flatfishes, lizardfishes and sciaenids exploited by different gears in the Malabar region were prepared.
- Prepared database on age, growth, mortality parameters, size at recruitment, length at first capture, probability of capture, spawning stock biomass, recruitment size, fecundity, mean length, length at first maturity and other parameters on C. limbatus, N. mesoprion, N. japonicus, C. macrostomus, J. sina and O. ruber to assess the impact of fishing on these resources and as an input for developing ecosystem based fisheries management models.
- Data base on trophodynamics of N. mesoprion, N. japonicus, C. macrostomus, J. sina and O. ruber exploited in Malabar region was prepared.
- Low-value bycatch (2007-2009) and discards (2008-2011) from trawl were studied.
- Rearing of Malabar red snapper in the beach farm at Calicut has shown that this species is suitable for culture along this coast.
- The broodstock of Malabar Red Snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) were developed in silpoulin lined pond at Beach Farm of CMFRI, Calicut.
- Low-cost rectangular cages of size 2.5x1x1 m were designed and fabricated using PVC pipes. Cost of the cage including the maturing and labour charges is approximately. Rs 3000/.
- Culture of pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis) was successfully demonstrated using low-cost cages to the farmers of Thiruvangoor, Calicut district.
- Carrying capacity in the mussel farming areas of Padanna Estuary was studied, which indicated positive impact on the physical and ecological carrying capacity of this estuary.
- Proposed a new conceptual value chain on rock oysters KONKAN MINI OYSTERS considering the rock oyster populations in Maharashtra and the high local demand for oysters both in Maharashtra and Goa.
- Training on bivalve farming being regualry conducted
- Pathological manifestations of the acanthocephalan, Tenuiproboscis sp. in the mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus was traced.
- Studies the infection of Perkinsus spp. in bivalves from Versova (Perna viridis), New Ferry Wharf (Meretrix meretrix), Sasoon Dock (Crassostrea madrasensis), Miyani, Navibandar and Porbandar (Crassostrea madrasensis).
- Studies indicated that Beypore beach is prone to more anthropogenic activities than other beaches in Calicut. The plastics and other non-biodegradable wastes showed 80% higher quantity in Beypore than other beaches in Calicut.
- Stranding of dolphins, whales and porpoises were recorded in the Malabar area and a database of marine mammals was prepared.
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Ongoing Research Projects
- Resource Assessment and Management Framework for Sustainable Marine Fisheries of Kerala (DEM/RMS/07)
- Developing management plans for sustainable exploitation & conservation of elasmobranchs in India (DEM/ELS/11)
- National Fishery Management Framework for Large Pelagic Resources Research project (PEL/LPR/04)
- Marine Macrophytes in India- Resource dynamics and Ecosystem services (FEM/MPH/29)
- Observation and monitoring of coastal and marine pollution, Its impact on sea life-Prevention and mitigation (FEM/CMP/28)
- Developing conservational plan for biologically sensitive areas along the Indian Coast (MBD/CNS/30)
- Assessment of resilience potential of coral reefs (MBD/CRL/31)
- Jellyfish bloom dynamics in coastal and marine ecosystems of India (MBD/JLY/32)
- Development of hatchery technologies for prioritized species in mariculture (MDN/HCY/18)
- Development of Sustainable Mariculture Practices through Technological Innovations in Cage and Coastal Farming" (MDN/SMP/19)
- Analyses of reproductive characteristics of prioritized species for mariculture (MDN/REP/20)
- Delineating the compensatory growth pattern in stunted fingerlings of Marine finfishes for production enhancement (MDN/GRO/22)
- Impacts of extreme weather events on marine fisheries in selected ecosystems of northern Indian ocean – a geoinformatics approach (FEM/GIS/38)
- Marine microbial diversity in relation to ecosystem functioning and environmental changes (MBEMD/MMD/39)
- Preparation of Interactive Digital Inventory of Marine Fish Landing Centres, Fishing Operations and Fishery Resources Along Indian Coast
- TSP –SCSP Programmes
- Assessment of marine mammal stock and bycatch and sea turtle bycatch for their protection
- National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase II
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Scientific Staff
No Name Designation 1 Dr. Anulekshmi Chellappan Senior Scientist & SIC 2 Dr. Akhilesh K. V. Senior Scientist 3 Dr. Shilta M. T. Scientist 4 Dr. Vaisakh G. Scientist 5 Smt. Ramya Abhijith Scientist
