fisheries and increasing production washighly appreciated. Hon. Minister thendeclared that CMFRI would prepare aroadmap for mariculture in India.

Hon'ble Union Minister, Shri Sharad Pawarvisiting the museum at Karwar RC

Director, CMFRI felicitatingHon'ble Union Minister

Dr. G. Syda Rao presenting research outputs toHon’ble Minister and other dignitaries

Hon'ble Union Minister discussing with Sidi tribalsat Karwar. Dignitaries are also seen

Hon'ble Minister on board the vessel along withShri. G. C. Pati, Secretary DAHDF, Admiral

B. K. Jain and Dr. S. Ayyappan, DG, ICAR

4 Cadalmin : CMFRI Newsletter No. 137

The Director General apprised the UnionAgriculture Minister about the capturefisheries management in India and the wayforward for enhancing the fish productionin India. He also updated the minister onthe need for establishing brood banks,satellite hatcheries and feed production unitsalong the west coast to meet the seed andfeed demands.

Secretary DAHDF, Dr. G.C. Pati assured allsupport from NFDB and MoA to CMFRIfor enhancing production through cageculture and establishment of seed and broodbanks.

The open sea cage technology developed,demonstrated and popularized by CMFRIis a classic example of transfer of scientific

technology from lab to the field in aparticipatory mode for the benefit ofmankind.

(Reported by Karwar RC)

Dr. G. Syda Rao, Director, CMFRI retiresDr. G. Syda Rao, Director, CMFRI retired from

service on superannuation on 31.07.2013.Appointed in the first batch of Agricultural ResearchService on 6.1.1977, Dr. G. Syda Rao, one of therenowned marine fisheries scientists in Indiaassumed the charge as Director, CMFRI on 8th

July, 2008. Under his stewardship during 2008-'13, CMFRI reached pinnacle of glory in the worldarena of marine fisheries. During his momentoustenure as Director, the research outputs of CMFRIhave been able to integrate with all states, as timelyinterventions, advices on several issues and enabledthe country to manage marine fisheries in asustainable manner and the institute's research dataregained the status of official figures of Govt. ofIndia. During this period CMFRI filed 15 patentsand commercialized two products viz. CadalminTM

Green Mussel extract and CadalminTM Green Algalextract. Pioneering the innovative cage mariculturein India and simultaneously achieving breakthroughin breeding of Cobia, Silver Pompano, GreasyGrouper, Pearlspot and Red Snapper, he hasdemonstrated technologically viable andeconomically feasible cage-culture, which willrevolutionize the marine fish production. Signs oflarge scale adoption of this technology are alreadyvisible. Successful pop-up satellite tagging ofYellowfin Tuna, land based culturing of Pearl Oysterin marine body, feed for Silver Pompano andornamental fish are other important scientificachievements attributable to his leadership.Conceptualization and initiation of chlorophyll basedremote sensing assisted Indian Fisheries Forecasting

System project is another milestone achievement.CMFRI witnessed an accelerated infrastructuredevelopment during 2008- '13 with theremarkable achievement in construction of lab cumoffice building at RCs of Mandapam, Mangalore,Vizhinjam, Karwar, Tuticorin, extension oflaboratory building at Visakhapatnam, face lift toVeraval RC's Office building, residential quarters atHeadquarters, laboratory building for Kovalam,Chennai RC, permanent space for Puri FieldCentre, additional floor at H/qs, Internationaltrainees hostel at Mandapam, VPN connectivitylinking all RCs, furnishing all the new lab cum officeat the above RCs, obtaining permanent lab cumoffice space for Mumbai RC at the entire secondfloor of CIFE old campus, 27 residential quartersin Central Government residential complex atMalwan, Mumbai, Establishment of RAS facility,Environmental chamber and mariculture complexat Mandapam RC. After a long hiatus two newfishery research vessels have been added to thefleet, viz. FV Silver Pompano which gotcommissioned recently and the other due in nextquarter. The visibility of CMFRI output and outcomereached global level through e-prints @CMFRI.Institute publication "Indian Journal of Fisheries" hasgone online and captured International impact factor0.195 and NAAS rating of 6.2.The international collaboration Indo-Australiastrategic partnership on climate change, NACA -CMFRI seminar on emerging issues in AsianAquaculture, International Belmont Forum and G8Research Councils International Opportunities

Fund, International Symposium on status of goodpractices and lessons learnt in Aquaculture in SAARCregion and hosting 9th Indian Fisheries Forum aresignificant events during his glittering reign.The Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Ernakulam attainedunprecedented heights and visibility during his tenure.Institute was able to bag Indira Gandhi Raj BhashaPuraskar.Under TSP, he led the Institute in empowering theSidi tribal community of Gujarat by helping them tothrash out a permanent livelihood option in cagebased mariculture.Dr. G. Syda Rao's outstanding contribution lies onthe creation of an ambience of happiness, securityand feel good factor among the staff of this Institutewhich paved way for CMFRI to scale new peaks inscientific output.WWWWWe salute our indomitable leader who hase salute our indomitable leader who hase salute our indomitable leader who hase salute our indomitable leader who hase salute our indomitable leader who hasleft an indelible mark in the annals ofleft an indelible mark in the annals ofleft an indelible mark in the annals ofleft an indelible mark in the annals ofleft an indelible mark in the annals ofCMFRI.CMFRI.CMFRI.CMFRI.CMFRI.