Sri Vijaya Puram, October 5: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is looking to expand mariculture activities across suitable locations after Chief Secretary Gyanesh Bharti reviewed Sea Bass cage culture and seaweed farming projects at Chidiyatapu, while also reopening the Munda Pahad Trek for visitors.
Bharti assessed the progress of the emerging marine-farming activities and their potential for expansion during his visit to the area. He inspected an open-sea cage culture project implemented in a sea area leased by the Department of Fisheries to beneficiaries and interacted with them on fish growth, feeding practices and the progress of operations.
The cage culture facility currently has eight cages, each measuring nine metres in diameter. Sea Bass culture began in May 2026 with 20,000 fish, each weighing about 0.4 gram and measuring approximately 1.5 inches. The fish have since reached an average weight of around 160 grams and a length of about 12 cm.
The project uses high-protein and high-fat feed, with harvesting planned for July 2027. By then, the fish are expected to reach a marketable size of about 1 kg.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed seaweed cultivation at Chidiyatapu, including the growth of Gracilaria edulis and other locally available species. Entrepreneurs are currently undertaking cultivation, with trial farming being used to assess the suitability and growth performance of different varieties under local environmental conditions.
The Fisheries Department has recently allotted 7.67 hectares at Chidiyatapu for commercial-scale seaweed farming. The proposed species include Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria salicornia, Ulva lactuca and Caulerpa lentillifera, commonly known as Sea Grape. Trial cultivation of Caulerpa lentillifera is underway along with assessment of other locally available seaweed resources.
ACOSTI-NIOT, Dollygunj, is providing technical support for the development and implementation of the mariculture projects. During the inspection, the Chief Secretary examined the performance of the seaweed activities, particularly Gracilaria edulis and other locally available species.
Interacting with beneficiaries and technical personnel, Bharti stressed the potential of mariculture to increase marine fish production, create livelihood opportunities and support sustainable utilisation of the Islands’ marine resources. He directed the Fisheries Department to advance the existing projects and work towards intensifying and expanding mariculture activities at suitable locations across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The visit included Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr. Sachin Shinde, Secretary (Fisheries) Pallavi Sarkar, Director of Fisheries Gurav Nilesh Nishikant and Officer-in-Charge, ACOSTI-NIOT, Dr. Dilip Kumar Jha, along with Fisheries Department officers and technical personnel.
Separately, Bharti reopened the Munda Pahad Trek at Chidiyatapu in the presence of PCCF (ANI) Sanjay Kumar Sinha and other senior officers. Bharti and the officers trekked to the Munda Pahad View Point and returned, covering approximately 2.50 km.
The renovated trail runs through tropical forests rich in birdlife before reaching the southernmost tip of South Andaman, where visitors can view the sea and coastline. Developed as an eco-tourism attraction, the trek is intended to promote nature appreciation and responsible tourism while conserving the fragile forest ecosystem.
The Munda Pahad Trek will remain open to visitors on all days from 9 AM to 3 PM, subject to prescribed guidelines for responsible visitation.
