The book provides a comprehensive overview of Indian mariculture, highlighting its vast potential and current challenges. It details progress in captive breeding and seed production of key marine finfishes such as cobia, pompano, grouper, and Indian pompano, along with advancements in cage and coastal aquaculture systems. It also covers ornamental fish breeding, live feed culture, and market practices supporting sustainable trade. A major focus is placed on seaweed farming, its economic benefits, and role in climate change mitigation. The book integrates technologies like IMTA and RAS, while addressing policy, environmental sustainability, and future research needs for sectoral growth.

Dr. Ritesh Ranjan graduated with a Bachelor of Fisheries Science (B.F.Sc.) from the College of Fisheries, Mangalore in 2003. He completed his Master of Fisheries Science (M.F.Sc.) in 2005 and earned his Ph.D. in Fish Pathology and Microbiology in 2012 from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education. In 2008, he was selected to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), with his first posting at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Since joining ICAR-CMFRI, Dr. Ritesh Ranjan has pursued research in finfish breeding and seed production, fish production systems, and live feed technology for mariculture. His notable contributions include the standardization of breeding and seed production protocols for several indigenous, commercially important marine finfish species such as the orange spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), Indian pompano (Trachinotus mookalee), John’s snapper (Lutjanus johnii), and golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus). He has also played a key role in developing recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS) for broodstock development and nursery rearing, as well as mass culture protocols for copepods, vital live feed organisms in mariculture. In addition to publishing extensively in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Ritesh Ranjan has guided three Ph.D. research scholars, contributing to capacity building and advancing knowledge in fisheries science.

Dr. K. K. Anikuttan completed his B.F.Sc. from the College of Fisheries, Panangad under Kerala Agricultural University, followed by M.F.Sc. and Ph.D. from the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai. Before joining ICAR, he served for five years as Assistant Director in the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. In 2014, Dr. K. K. Anikuttan entered the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and has since been working at the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in the Mariculture Division. His research contributions include breeding and seed production of marine food fishes such as cobia and silver pompano, and ornamental species like clownfishes, damselfishes, crustaceans, and invertebrates. He has worked extensively on the culture of microalgae, rotifers, and copepods, and promoted sea cage farming, seaweed farming, and ornamental fish rearing through SCSP programmes. Dr. K. K. Anikuttan has imparted training to farmers, fishers, hatchery technicians, students, and officials nationwide. He is the lead inventor of one design patent, lead developer of two ICAR-certified technologies, and co-developer of two additional ICAR-certified technologies.

Dr. Ambarish P. Gop is a Scientist at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), having joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 2016. He is currently posted at the Vizhinjam Regional Centre, where his research focuses on broodstock development, breeding, and seed production of marine food fishes such as silver pompano (Trachinotus blochii), Indian pompano (Trachinotus mookalee), and giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis). In addition, he has contributed to the breeding and culture of marine ornamental fishes, including damselfishes and dottybacks, which are of high value in the aquarium trade. Dr. Ambarish P. Gop presently leads two major projects: the “Breeding and Supply Centre for Damsel Fishes” funded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the “On-farm Demonstration of Nursery Rearing and Seed Production of Captive-bred Giant Trevally Using Natural and Artificial Feed” funded by National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), advancing sustainable mariculture practices.

Dr. Sekar Megarajan serves as a Senior Scientist in the Mariculture Division of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre. His research primarily focuses on developing farming methods for marine finfishes across diverse aquaculture systems and advancing innovative technologies for seaweed cultivation. He has been an integral member of the team that successfully introduced four marine finfish species into commercial farming, benefitting coastal farming communities in Andhra Pradesh and other states of India. Dr. Sekar Megarajan has also pioneered a novel seaweed farming technique designed to withstand the rough sea conditions of the East Coast, particularly along the Andhra Coast. With more than 30 research publications to his credit, he has made significant contributions to mariculture science, extension, and technology dissemination. His achievements have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Dr. C.V. Kulkarni Best Young Scientist Award, the Shri J.V.H. Dixitulu National Award for excellence in mariculture extension and communication, and the Pillay Aquaculture Team Award for outstanding contributions to aquaculture research and development.

Dr. Johnson B. holds a Master’s degree (2002) and a Ph.D. (2011) in Agricultural Extension, for which he was awarded the prestigious Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). He joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in November 2009 and has been serving as a Scientist at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre since 2010, with a focus on marine fisheries, mariculture extension, and economics. Dr. Johnson B. has made significant academic contributions, authoring 38 research papers, 27 books/manuals, 26 book chapters, and over 90 technical and popular articles. He has played a key role in promoting seaweed farming in Tamil Nadu under the SCSP programme and in popularizing the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) model by integrating seaweed farming with cage aquaculture. A technology developer, he has contributed to six technologies, two as lead developer and four as associate developer. His achievements have earned him several awards, including the Ganga Singh Chauhan Memorial Award, the Young Investigator Award, the Best Trainee Award, and the Prof. N. R. Menon Memorial Award.

Dr. Shubhadeep Ghosh is the Assistant Director General (Marine Fisheries) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He previously served as the Head of the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Andhra Pradesh, where he led several key initiatives in marine fisheries research and extension. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Kalyani, a Master of Fishery Science in Fishery Pathology and Microbiology, and a Bachelor of Fisheries Science, both from the West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences.

Dr. Shubhadeep Ghosh’s professional expertise spans finfish taxonomy, stock assessment, fisheries biology, marine cage farming, and breeding and seed production of commercial finfishes. His research has focused on the taxonomy, biology, and stock assessment of pelagic resources in Andhra Pradesh, the impacts of climate change on these resources, and carbon footprint assessments from major fishing harbours. He has also advanced breeding and seed production techniques for marine finfishes, along with nursery rearing and grow-out in cages and coastal ponds. He has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Pillay Aquaculture Award, the Shri J.V.H. Dixitulu National Award, and has been elected as a Fellow of the Zoological Society of India.

Dr. Grinson George is a distinguished fisheries scientist and administrator with more than twenty years of impactful contributions in research, policy, and international coordination. He currently serves as the Director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), where he provides strategic leadership in marine resource management. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the National Institute of Oceanography/Goa University and post-doctoral research at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), UK. His expertise spans Fisheries Oceanography, Marine Biodiversity, and the application of Remote Sensing and GIS for resource assessment and climate change impact analysis.Dr. Grinson George has held significant regional and international roles. As Senior Programme Specialist (Fisheries) at the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), he coordinated fisheries and aquaculture programs across all eight South Asian nations, promoting sustainability and policy harmonization. He has also contributed to the Indo–Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG), participated in the PML-UK REVIVAL project, and featured in a DBT-funded podcast on scientific outreach. His career includes hands-on experience in the Maldives, further strengthening his practical expertise. This unique blend of advanced scientific leadership, regional engagement, and multilateral policy coordination underscores Dr. Grinson George’s pivotal role in advancing marine resource management at both national and international levels.

Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 1989 and served as the Director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi from 2013 to 2024. With more than 35 years of professional experience, his expertise spans fish population and conservation genetics, marine fisheries management, DNA barcoding, milt cryopreservation, fish reproduction, and mariculture. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), former President of the Marine Biological Association of India (MBAI), Life Member of the Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Society (ABCS), and former Chairman of the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB). He also chaired the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) committee that framed India’s National Mariculture Policy.

Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan’s scientific contributions include identifying distinct genetic stocks in more than 35 commercially important fish species, developing captive breeding and year-round seed production techniques for nine marine finfish species and 28 ornamental species, and creating DNA barcodes for 111 elasmobranch and 356 teleost species. He established the Dr. E.G. Silas Centre of Excellence & Innovation in Marine Fish Microbiome & Nutrigenomics (2020–2026) and developed National Brood Banks for cobia and silver pompano. He has played a pivotal role in formulating national fisheries policies, including the National Policy on Marine Fisheries and the National Blue Economy Policy. Under his leadership, India’s Marine Fisheries Stock Status (2022) was assessed, reporting 91.1% of stocks in a healthy state. He has published 302 research papers, 32 books, submitted 2,102 DNA sequences to NCBI, and guided 16 Ph.D. scholars.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Breeding and Seed Production of Commercially Important Marine Finfishes (Indian Pompano, Silver Pompano, Cobia and Grouper)

Chapter 3: Grow-out farming systems for prioritized marine finfish species

Chapter 4: Breeding and seed production of marine ornamental fishes

Chapter 5: Seaweed farming for food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation of poverty