Artificial reef project in State from January

IN a first-of-its-kind initiative in Andhra Pradesh, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is set to deploy artificial reefs along the State's coastline to restore marine biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of fishermen.

- USHA PERI @ Visakhapatnam

These reefs, designed in shapes like triangles, flowers, and large pipes, are expected to attract marine life, particularly fish that thrive in deeper waters, drawing them closer to the shore.

The initiative comes in response to declining marine biodiversity caused by pollution and oil-related activities near the coast. The depletion of fish stocks has severely impacted the livelihoods of coastal communities with many local fishermen forced to seek employment in far-off locations as labourers.