Research Priorities COFS

Sr. No.	Research Area	Aim	Objective	Benefits of Farmers
Aquaculture
1	Breeding and Hatchery Management	To improve the efficiency and productivity of fish seed production.	Develop advanced induced breeding techniques, broodstock management, and hatchery optimization for key aquaculture species.	Access to high-quality fish seed for improved survival rates, faster growth, and increased yield in farms.
2	Sustainable Aquaculture Practices	To promote eco-friendly and sustainable aquaculture practices that improve farm productivity without harming the environment.	Research on the adoption of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), and integrated fish farming techniques.	Reduced dependency on traditional resources, cost-effective farming, and increased environmental sustainability.
AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
1	Aquatic Productivity and Water-Soil Quality Studies	To enhance aquaculture production efficiency by demonstrating effective soil and water quality management practices.	To impart skills and knowledge to stakeholders for sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.	Improved yields, sustainable resource use, reduced environmental degradation, and long-term profitability.
FISH ENGINEERING
1.	Fishing Craft and Gear Technology	Documentation of Indigenous fish catching techniques in Eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra	1. To explore knowledge about prevalent indigenous fishing techniques among fishermen. 2. To document ITK through interaction, observation & focus group discussion using semi-structured interview schedule 3. Use of rationality scale to judge rationality of the indigenous practices.	1. Inventorying of indigenous fishing crafts & gears used 2. Validation of indigenous knowledge through scientific technology. 3. Protection of indigenous knowledge through Intellectual Property Rights
FISH PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
1	Product Development	To enhance fish preservation, processing, and value addition techniques suitable for the Vidarbha region.	To develop cost-effective and sustainable fish processing technologies that ensure quality, safety, and market competitiveness. To promote the utilization of underutilized fish species by developing value-added products and reducing post-harvest losses.	Value-added fish products will open new market opportunities, leading to better income generation and economic stability.
2	Food safety & Shelf-life assessment	To ensure the safety and extended shelf life of fish and fish products through scientific assessment and improved preservation techniques.	To develop and standardize protocols for microbial quality control, packaging, and storage to maintain fish product freshness and safety.	Enhanced food safety measures and extended shelf life will reduce spoilage, ensuring better market value and increased income.
FISHERIES EXTENSION, ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
1	Community empowerment facilitating farmers and fishermen to enhance collective action, capacity building, and decision-making processes for sustainable fisheries management and livelihood development	To mobilize farmers and fishermen for taking up fisheries and aquaculture as one of the means of sustainable livelihood.	To support group of farmers and fishermen to form Fisheries Interest Groups (FIGs) and FFPOs	Skill development Bargaining power Rapid expansion of fisheries and modern aquaculture technologies etc.
2	Constraint analysis of fish farmers/fishers of Nagpur division	To identify the constraints faced by fish farmers and fishermen of the region	To be able to help farmers and fishermen to overcome their constraints	Provision of technical guidance on the queries and constraints of farmers and fishermen.
3	Livelihood impact assessment of beneficiaries of developmental schemes	To carry out impact assessment study in the specified area where schemes are employed	To know the bottlenecks in the fisheries extension services and to be able to improve	Better implementation of the schemes and their benefits for farmers and fishermen
FISHERIES RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1	Study on ichthyofaunal biodiversity of Reservoir and Rivers of Vidarbha region reservoir	To Study on ichthyofaunal biodiversity of Vidarbha region reservoir and river	1.To study the profile of ichthyofaunal diversity of Reservoir and river 2.To study the distribution and abundance of different species during different months. 3.To document the physico-chemical and biological parameters of reservoir and river of Vidharbha region.	Eco-system-based management of reservoirs is a new concept in India. The stock of endemic species is dwindling in rivers. Even in reservoirs on large rivers, the endemic species have become rare. Ichthyofaunal diversity have widely been used as ecological indicators to assess and evaluate the level of degradation and health of water bodies at various spatial scales. In freshwater ecosystem, population of fish species is sharply declining due to several anthropogenic factors viz., habitat degradation, exotic species introduction, water diversions, pollution and global climate change. Hence, the present assessment will provide valuable information on the fish diversity profile of reservoir and river will help to develop protocols for ecosystem management of reservoirs, river and strategies for conservation of endemic species. The data generated from the study will be used to create awareness among the fisherfolk, researchers and the concerned authorities.
2	Studies on bar coding of fresh water fishes	Species Identification, Biodiversity Assessment, Fishery Management, Food Safety and Fraud Detection and Research and Conservation	1.To study DNA barcoding allows for the accurate identification of fish species, 2.To study Barcoding in assessing the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems 3.By identifying species composition in catches, can inform sustainable fishing practices	1. Species Identification: DNA barcoding allows for the accurate identification of fish species, especially in cases where morphological characteristics are insufficient for distinguishing between closely related species. 2. Biodiversity Assessment: Barcoding can help in assessing the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems by identifying species present in a given area, including those that are difficult to observe or collect. 3. Fishery Management: By identifying species composition in catches, DNA barcoding can inform sustainable fishing practices and regulations, helping to prevent overfishing and protect endangered species. 4. Food Safety and Fraud Detection: DNA barcoding can be used to verify the labels of fish products, ensuring the authenticity of species sold in markets and combating fish fraud. 5. Research and Conservation: Barcoding assists in ecological and evolutionary research by providing insights into population structure, genetic diversity, and the relationships between species.