Initiatives/ Scheme
India’s First 3D-Printed Artificial Reefs
- Context: Tamil Nadu will deploy India’s first 3D-printed artificial reef modules off the Ramanathapuram coast under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- The project serves as a pilot initiative to test six innovative reef designs developed using advanced 3D-printing technology.
Development of the Reef Modules
- The modules were developed by Tvasta, an IIT Madras-incubated startup, in collaboration with the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
- Each module weighs approximately one tonne and will be deployed about two nautical miles offshore.
Features of the 3D-Printed Reefs
- Unlike conventional reinforced concrete reefs, the new modules:
- Possess complex geometries with crevices and folds.
- Have a higher surface area and greater porosity.
- Are manufactured without iron reinforcement.
- Provide suitable habitats for corals, sponges, and other reef-associated organisms.
- Allow species-specific habitat design and site-specific material modifications.
Objectives of the Pilot Project
- Assess the durability and ecological performance of the modules under local coastal conditions.
- Evaluate the feasibility of large-scale deployment in the future.
- Promote marine biodiversity conservation and strengthen fish habitats.
Significance
- The initiative comes amid increasing threats to coral reefs due to ocean warming and mass bleaching events.
- It aims to enhance fish stocks and support the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities in Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts.
- The project marks the final phase of an artificial reef programme implemented across 213 reef sites in Tamil Nadu, funded jointly by the Centre and the State Government in a 60:40 ratio.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, launched in September 2020 to usher in a Blue Revolution in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
- Implemented by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, it is among the country’s most comprehensive programmes for fisheries development.
- The scheme seeks to upgrade fisheries infrastructure, boost fish production, raise the incomes of fishermen and fish farmers, and promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources.
Objectives of PMMSY
- Raise the fisheries sector’s contribution to the Gross Value Added (GVA) from 1.24% to around 1.5%.
- Enhance and ultimately double the earnings of fishers and aquaculture farmers.
- Create more than 55 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.
- Strengthen and modernise the entire fisheries value chain, including harvesting, processing, storage, transportation, and marketing.
- Encourage sustainable, responsible, and inclusive growth of the fisheries sector.
- Develop and improve infrastructure for marine fisheries, inland fisheries, and aquaculture.
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