Ranching or artificial recruitment of aquatic organisms into the open sea and backwaters is primarily undertaken to improve fish stock, enhance production, and conserve marine resources. Fisheries research institutes have developed seed production technologies for select marine finfish species, enabling large-scale seed production and facilitating ranching in low-productive waters.
To address the issues of over-exploitation and resource depletion, Sea Ranching program initiated for ranching of 10 lakh fish fingerlings in Tamil Nadu at a total cost of ₹3.00 crore. A total of 25 strategic coastal locations across Tamil Nadu, where artificial reefs have already been deployed under various schemes, have been selected for the ranching program. The species identified for release include:
Sea bass (Lates calcarifer)
Silver pompano (Trachinotus blochii)
Indian white shrimp (Penaeus indicus) – subject to availability
The ranching of sea bass fingerlings has been already commenced in the districts of Thoothukudi, Mayiladuthurai, and Thanjavur, with Sea bass fingerlings sourced from Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA). Ranching operations in the remaining locations will be continued in the coming months.
This initiative reflects Tamil Nadu’s commitment to restoring marine ecosystems, supporting sustainable fisheries, and ensuring the long-term well-being of coastal communities.
