Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA)
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) is the R & D arm of MPEDA, and is dedicated to augment the Indian seafood exports through sustainable culture technologies. The organisation which functions as a society under MPEDA, with no profit no loss motto has made breakthroughs not only in culture technologies of Shrimps, but also in diversified species such as Seabass, Cobia, Pompano, Tilapia, Groupers, Mud Crab etc. With the implementation of projects such as the Pilot scale Marine Finfish Hatchery Project at Vizhinjam, Kerala, Grouper project at A & N islands and Seabass hatchery and Mud Crab hatchery projects at Thoduvai, Tamil Nadu, RGCA is fully geared up to change the existing trend of restricted species culture practices, which is prevalent in our country. So far, the coastal aquaculture has been mainly shrimp centric and the export revenue was mainly contributed by the shrimps. But with the applied research pursued by RGCA in culture technologies of diversified species, India can now look forward to expand its export oriented aquaculture base by exporting high valued finfish and shellfish species, apart from the conventional ones.