Introduction

This research farm was established during the year 2004 by our present respected Vice Chancellor under DBT scheme (24.83 lakhs). Earlier this centre was named as Maritech Research Centre and later as Maritech Research and Extension Centre functioning under the control Director of Research and Extension (Fisheries). Different external funded research projects have been operated in this centre and many external funded training programs have also been operated in this centre. Along with research works by PG students this centre is also involved in many extension activities like skill development and vocational trainings on shrimpfarming, seaweed farming, lobster farming and crab fattening to farmers, fisherfolk and entrepreneurs.

Presently this centre is brought under the category of Research Farm and placed directly under the control of Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi and renamed as Mariculture Research Farm Facility. In this research farm presently research and farming works are in progress under Institute Private Partnership mode, Industry Institute collaborative projects and Revolving fund scheme on “Demonstration farming of vannamei in lined ponds. Wild caught marine edible and ornamental fishes are weaned to artificial feed and maintained in this research farm. Vannamei farming is done in raceways and this farm facility is used by PG students for their research purpose, every year 2 PG students are placed at MRFF, Tharuvaikulam for research. Hands on exposure are also offered to UG and PG students on different mariculture practices for their practical classes. Under ELP and IPT UG students are involved in farming of P.vannamei for hands on farming exposure. Trainings are also offered at a frequent interval to farmers, fisherfolk and entrepreneurs on different mariculture culture activities. Overall this research farm caters the research and extension need of students and public on different mariculture activities.

Infrastructure:

• Office building with water quality and microbiology lab facility
• Well furnished training hall with seating capacity of 50 trainees
• Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) 2 units
• Raceways – 3 number with 2 tanks in each unit
• Marine ornamental unit with 20 cement tanks of 1 ton capacity
• Lined ponds 3 numbers Earthen ponds 3 numbers

Achievements:

• Lining of P3 and P4 ponds done and successful farming of vannamei was achieved under ELP
• Pond no. P5 was lined under Institute Private Partnership mode and vannamei farming is under progress
• Institute Industry linked project is under operation in collaboration with Sea6 Energy at MRFF, Tharuvaikulam
• MoU has been prepared sent to Reliance Industries Ltd, Mumbai and Sea6 Energy, Bangalore for confirmation from their company for different researches on their products in vannamei culture as Institute Industry linked project. Representatives from Reliance Industries Ltd have visited our facility at MRFF.

Current Focus:

• Utilization of facilities available at MRFF for PG students research and UG students experiential learning process
• To carry out researches on different mariculture activities through Industry linked collaborative project
• To carryout vannamei faming under Institute Private partnership mode
• To carryout researches on pond and raceway based farming of Cobia, Seabass and Pompano
• To acclimatize and maintain marine ornamental fishes for breeding purpose
• To offer training programs on different mariculture activities

Faculty/ Scientists:

Publications:

Research articles

• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S., Venkatasamy,M., .Arul Oli, G. and Athithan, S. (2013). Evaluation of poultry carcass meal as a dietray protein supplement in growth assesment of gold fish (carassius auratus) – In Tamil. In Fisheries Science” Seminar proceeding published by “All India Tamil kazhagam” 21st Scientific Tamil National Conference, Coimbatore: 135-140.
• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S. and Arul Oli, G. (2013). Evaluation of Poultry Carcass Meal as a Dietary Protein Supplement in Growth Assessment of Gold Fish (Carassius auratus). SKUAST J. Res. 15(2): 123-127.
• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S., Nagoor Meeran, M. and Arul Oli, G. (2014). An introduction to periphyton based L.vannamei farming – A farm level study. In: Proc. of Compendium of Keynote addresses, Lead papers and Abstracts, Awareness program on recent developments in L.vannamei farming – Organized by IFT, TNFU, Nagapattinam on 13.08.2014: 53 – 57 pp.
• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S. and Arul Oli, G. (2014). Short term growth evaluation study on cat fish (Pangasius pangasius) fry using poultry carcass meal as a dietary protein supplement. SKUAST J. Res. 16(2): 1- 4
• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S. and Arul Oli, G. (2017). Farm level feeding and production response of pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) in periphyton based farming system. SKUAST J. Res. 19(1): 53 – 59
• Vijay Amirtharaj, K.S., Ahilan,B, and Arul Oli, G. (2017). Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) – An Environmental friendly farming approach. Journal of Aquaculture in Tropics. 32(3-4): 209 - 222

Extension articles:

• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, M.Nagoor Meeran., G. Arul Oli, 2013, Mud Crab Farming, Meenvalachudar, 1(2):12-17.
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, M.Nagoor Meeran., G. Arul Oli, 2013, Shrimp farming methods, Meenvalachudar, 1(3):09-11.
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, M.Nagoor Meeran., G. Arul Oli, 2013, Shrimp disease diagnosis, control and prevention methods, Meenvalachudar, 1(3):30-31
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, Pond preparation methods in shrimp farming, Meenvalachudar, 1(3): 46-47.
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj,2013, and G. Arul Oli, 2013, Cultivable characters of brackish water fin and shell fishes, Meenvalachudar, 1(4): 46-48.
• Vijay Amirtharaj,K,S, B.Ahilan and G.Arul Oli, 2016. L.vannamei farming technique in Low saline water, Meenvalachudar, 4 (1): 6 – 9.
• Vijay Amirtharaj,K,S, B.Ahilan and G.Arul Oli Periphyton based aquaculture system – A sustainable farming approach, Aquaculture International, 24 (4): 60 – 61.
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, and G. Arul Oli, 2017, Shrimp Broodstock Management. Meenvalachudar, 5(1):36 – 37.
• K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj, 2013, and G. Arul Oli, 2017, Harvesting and hygienic handling of P.vannamei Meenvalachudar, 5(1):11 – 12
• Arul Oli.G., M.Venkatasamy., K.S. Vijay Amirtharaj,2013, Culture of loach fish, Meenvalachudar, 1(2):18-22.

Training manuals:

Pamphlets

Others(Booklet):