India needs to boost mariculture production to 25 lakh tonnes by 2047 from the current 1.5 lakh tonnes to meet the country’s rapidly growing seafood demand, CMFRI Director Grinson George said on Saturday.Speaking at the launch of a training programme for fish farmers under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), George said mariculture is emerging as the next major growth area in India’s marine fisheries sector, PTI reported. Technologies such as cage culture and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) could help increase marine fish production.“Due to climate change and resource depletion, India needs to explore alternative systems such as mariculture. To meet growing seafood demand, at least 25 lakh tonnes of mariculture production is targeted by 2047,” he said.George added that CMFRI has developed several mariculture technologies suited to Indian conditions, which can enhance productivity and improve fishermen’s livelihoods. He also highlighted India’s potential in seaweed farming.“While global seaweed production stands at 3.55 crore tonnes, India’s production remains very low. At least 50 lakh tonnes of domestic seaweed production could be achieved to meet growing industrial and nutraceutical demand,” George said.He stressed that India’s extensive coastline and favourable marine conditions provide the natural potential and scientific capability to emerge as a global mariculture hub. “If we adopt modern technologies and develop a strong policy framework, mariculture can transform the economic landscape of coastal India,” he added.George called for a national mariculture policy and supportive legal framework to promote sustainable, large-scale investment and systematic growth in the sector.