CMFRI Marine Museum, Mandapam
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam was established by the government of India under the Ministry of Agriculture in 1947 , It was the earlier head quarters of CMFRI, The headquarters was shifted from Mandapam Camp to Cochin in 1971.
CMFRI, Mandapam is one of the largest research organisation in India, lots of marine research projects related to the estimation of marine fisheries, Fisheries management, coastal mariculture, sea farming , Bio diversity, Bio technology etc.
There is a beautiful Museum and an colorful aquarium opened for the view of tourists and research people. The marine museum located here is one of the largest marine museums in India and contains more than 3000 species. The species in the museum includes vast varieties of fishes and other fauna and flora, fossils, etc., of Gulf of Mannar Bio reserve and from the seas around India which includes Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
Details of the Species in CMFRI Marine Museum:
- 1100 species of fishes
- 152 sponges 180 Varieties of corals
- 200 varieties of tube dwelling worms
- 220 types of crabs and hermit crabs
- 125 varieties of prawns
- Stomatopods
- 370 varieties of sea shells
- Specimens and models of Fisheries
- Fossils
Mandapam regional center of CMFRI:
The spectacular aquarium which is located in the CMFRI, Mandapam consists of colorful ornamental fishes, coelenterates, crustaceans and molluscs of Gulf of Mannar Bio Reserve. The fishes were kept in large glass tanks filled with running sea water, which is taken from the nearby sea using motorized water pumping system.
Turtles and larger sea animals were kept separately in larger cement tanks.
Details of the Marine living beings in CMFRI Aquarium
- Puffer fish
- Sea horse
- Star Fish
- Clown fish
- Underwater coral wall fuji
- Anemone fish
- prawn & shrimp
- lobster
- White spotted eagle ray
- Whale shark
- Red Caribbean Reef Squid
- Green Sea Turtle
- Benthos
- Blue-spotted stingray Fish
- Yellow cowfish
- Lion fish
Visiting hours for Aquarium
Time: 10:00AM – 12:30PM and 2:00AM – 4:00PM
All Sunday Holidays and Second Saturday Holidays.
Mandapam CMFRI Map:
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