Sri Vijaya Puram, July 9: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have become the first region in India to secure registration for a commercial Open Sea Cage Culture Farm under the Coastal Aquaculture Rules, 2024, marking a significant development in the country’s marine aquaculture sector and setting a precedent for regulated commercial mariculture.
The registration was granted by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), Chennai, to the Open Sea Cage Culture Farm established by Islands Aquaculture & Marine Services (SHG) in a sea area leased by the Department of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The approval marks the first commercial registration of its kind in the country under the newly notified regulatory framework governing coastal aquaculture.
According to the Administration, the registration reflects efforts to promote scientifically managed and responsible mariculture while facilitating private sector participation under the provisions of the Coastal Aquaculture Rules, 2024. The development is expected to strengthen sustainable marine aquaculture in the Islands and create opportunities for investment, employment generation and the blue economy.
The Department of Fisheries had leased the notified sea area to Islands Aquaculture & Marine Services (SHG) on November 18, 2025, in accordance with the approved terms and conditions for establishing an open sea cage culture unit at North Bay. With technical support from ACOSTI-NIOT, Dollygunj, the firm commenced commercial farming of Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer), a high-value marine fish species with strong market demand.
The commercial unit has established four grow-out cages, each measuring 10 metres in diameter, along with four nursery (happa) cages for rearing fish seed before transfer to the grow-out cages. Around 1,000 to 1,200 Asian Seabass seed measuring 2 to 3 cm were initially stocked, and the fish have now grown to 6 to 8 inches, indicating satisfactory growth under culture conditions.
The fish are being fed Skretting floating feed imported from Norway, with feed size progressively increased according to the growth stage of the stock to support healthy development and efficient feed utilisation.
Meanwhile, the registration of two additional commercial open sea cage culture units at Chidiyatapu is under process with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority. The proposed units belong to Aqua World Exports Pvt. Ltd. and Canares Aquaculture LLP.
The Department of Fisheries said it is actively promoting mariculture, particularly open sea cage culture, as a sustainable livelihood option for the fishing community while reducing dependence on capture fisheries. To encourage adoption of the technology, financial assistance is being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with support of 40 per cent of the approved unit cost for general category beneficiaries and 60 per cent for women beneficiaries. The approved unit cost has been fixed at βΉ5 lakh per cage.
The registration marks a key step in expanding regulated marine aquaculture in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the country’s new coastal aquaculture framework.
