As a measure to improve the coastal marine fisheries by stock enhancement, setting up of artificial reefs along the coastline of the State has been initiated by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Installation of artificial reefs would be helpful for the artisanal fishermen to exploit the fish stocks without spending much time and energy.
An Artificial reef is a recycled, underwater artificial habitat for marine life. It helps in augmenting the productivity of the marine ecosystem. It increases the available area for food, shelter and breeding activities for fishes and other marine organisms. This also enhances the fish production through increased breeding activity and increased survival of young ones. Further, it act as the barrier for bottom trawling operations by mechanized boats in these areas and prevent the destruction of reefs which are the natural breeding habitats.
Various modules of concrete structures rectangle or conical whichever is suitable for grouper/reef fishes based on the landings of fish species in the area numbering around 150- 200 will be prefabricated on the shore, then deployed in the inshore areas in the selected sites at a depth ranging from 11 to 20 mts.
The Government of Tamil Nadu initiated the programme on installation of artificial reefs in 1987 and installed in 3 fishing villages off Chennai on an experimental basis and extended its activity to 18 more coastal villages from 1999-2000 to 2008-09 and 19 more villages from 2011 to 2015. The benefits are becoming increasingly visible and the fishermen community is welcoming the installation of more reefs in the state, as a measure of stock enhancement.
Further, installation of artificial reefs in 30 locations all along the coastal villages in the Tiruvallur, Chennai and Kanchipuram districts at a cost of Rs.10 crore (Rupees ten crore only) @ Rs.30 lakh per cluster / per centre has been completed from the amount received from the Insurer of Oil shipping companies towards restoration activities.
Under GRRRP Project, artificial reefs have been installed in 60 locations along the coastal villages of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam districts at a total cost of Rs.18.50 crore.
Installation of artificial reefs in two villages viz., Koonankuppam and Lighthouse nadukuppam in Tiruvallur district at a total cost of Rs.50 lakh under CSR funds received from Kamarajar Port Limited, was carried out through Engineering wing of Fisheries Department.
Government of India, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, New Delhi have accorded additional approval to Government of Tamil Nadu for the year 2022-23, under non beneficiary oriented component of PMMSY, at a total cost not exceeding to Rs.62.00 crore (Rupees sixty crore only) with central share of Rs.37.20 crore (Rupees thirty seven crore and twenty lakh only) under non beneficiary oriented component of CSS component of PMMSY for installation of 200 units of Artificial Reefs in 49 fishermen villages in Tamil Nadu.
In addition, the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India has approved the action plan for the year 2024-25 and issued administrative sanction to a total cost of Rs 67.27 crore for deployment 217 Artificial Reef units in 43 villages in Palk Bay District.
