The CIFE contributions to marine fisheries R&D are mainly In the areas of stock assessment, brackish water farming, fishing and product
diversification, fishery socio-economics and technology transfer. Stock assessment studies, limited to the west coast and particularly to the
northwest coast Include the stocks of Co///a dussumleii, Otolilhus cuvleri, Johnlus glaucus, Polynemus heptadactylus, Harpodon nehereus, Arius
thalasslnus, Nemlpterus japonlcus, all-northwest coast Inshore species, penaeid prawns, Rastrelllger kanagurta, Sardlnella longiceps and xancus
pyrum. In respect of brackish water fisheries, R & D acclivities are concerned with prawn hatcheries, seed banks, low Input culture, live feed culture
and fishery estates. Simple techniques for making laminated Bombay duck, fish wafers and minced meat have been developed for the purpose of
product diversification. High opening bottom trawling has been experimentally proven to be more productive than the traditional bottom trawling,
and Is being popularised. Studies on profitability of mechanised fishing indicate some prospects for additional Investment. Small private owned
brackish water farms are more profitable than large government owned farms, Indicating thereby the need to privatize the farm sector. The fisherie
