The open-sea mussel longline farming unit.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) unit at Vizhinjam here has launched its first full-fledged open-sea mussel longline farming unit.

The initiative – supported by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, under the ‘Development of pilot-scale open-sea eco-mussel farms in India: a Blue Growth Project’ – is aimed at developing sustainable mussel farming technologies and creating additional livelihood opportunities for coastal fishing communities.

The longline mussel farming system
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Shashi Tharoor, MP, launched the project at Vizhinjam on Wednesday. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the local ‘Vizhinjam Mungal Thozhilali Kshema Sangom.’

ICAR-CMFRI’s Vizhinjam Regional Centre said it has developed advanced mussel hatchery and micro-nursery technologies, enabling large-scale production of mussel seed and reducing dependence on natural seed resources.

Shashi Tharoor, MP, launching the open-sea mussel longline farming unit at Vizhinjam on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The project is being launched at Vizhinjam following successful preliminary farming trials along the Kanyakumari coast. Building on these results, the Vizhinjam unit incorporates 20 specially designed 300-litre HDPE floats, parallel mainlines, suspended mussel culture ropes and an anchoring system.

The demonstration will assess mussel growth, production potential and economic viability under local open-sea conditions, with the active participation of the traditional diving community, ICAR-CMFRI officials said.

Published – October 21, 2026 11:18 pm IST