Photo : Collected

PATUAKHALI, June 29, 2025 (BSS) - The concluding seminar on the research 
project on coral fish farming implemented by the Aquaculture Department of 
Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) was held in Kuakata here 
on Saturday. 

The success of the project titled "Coral Fish Production through Artificial 
Food with the Help of Seaweed in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh" was 
highlighted at the event. 

Additional Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Director of 
the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project Md. Zia Haider Chowdhury 
was present as the chief guest at the seminar. 

Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of PSTU, Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Haque, 
District Fisheries Officer Md. Kamrul Islam and Deputy Project Director SM 
Azharul Islam were present as special guests. 

Project Head Prof Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzak presided over the seminar. 

It was informed in the seminar that feeding coral fish fry imported from 
Thailand with artificial food mixed with natural algae twice a day increases 
the weight of the fish by up to 23.5 kilograms per year. 

Research has shown that the highest production is possible with a 10 percent 
algae mixture in the food. The project was successfully implemented at the 
field level by providing training and materials to 250 farmers. 

Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university Prof Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam said that 
making the valuable marine species coral fish suitable for cultivation 
locally is a groundbreaking step. This research will make an important 
contribution to improving the quality of life of the coastal people and the 
nutritional security of the country. 

Beneficiary farmer Anwar Hossain said after taking the training, he was 
successful in producing up to four-kg of coral fish on artificial food, which 
is also economically profitable. 

The seminar was also attended, among others, by the staff of Department of 
Fisheries, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and Fisheries Development 
Corporation and farmers from different areas. 

At the end of the discussion, a leaflet on coral fish farming was unveiled.