New Dellhi: The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries approved by the Government in December 2015 inter-alia provides financial assistance for (i) open sea cage culture and (ii) installation of cages/pens in reservoirs and other open water bodies. Under the CSS, the unit cost of open sea cage is fixed at Rs. 5 lakh per cage and having minimum diameter of 6 m and depth of 4 m in case of each circular cage and 96 cubic meter volume (6mx4mx4m) in case of each rectangular cage. Similarly, the unit cost for installation of cages/pens in reservoirs and other open water bodies is fixed at Rs. 3 lakh per cage including installation and inputs for first crop.
The Government of Karnataka reported the installation of 8 marine cages with an expenditure of Rs. 29.9 lakh for Seabass and Cobia culture and a total of 102 cages in reservoir with an expenditure of Rs.81 lakh. Besides, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad has also sanctioned 500 brackish-water cages to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) for installation in the selected District of Karnataka.
