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The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) is the pioneer in developing the technology for cage fish farming in India . Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) grows relatively fast in cages and is very much suited for carrying out small scale mariculture to meet the alternate livelihood needs of fisher-folk. Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI has developed the technology for breeding, seed production and farming of cobia in cages and organised training, and frontline/participatory demonstration programmes which have aided in creating awareness about the techno-economic viability of cage farming among the fisherfolk in Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. A survey was taken up among a sample of 75 members of fisher self help groups (SHGs) who had adopted cage farming of cobia, inorder to assess their perception and attributes about the technology as well as the constraints faced by them. The study found that fast growth rate of cobia, shorter culture period, good farm gate price, high market demand, ease of farming near the seashore and seed availability were the important attributes which attracted the fishermen groups to take up the farming. The innovations introduced by the fishers in cage farming technology were also documented. Majority of the fishers stated, non-availability of seed during peak stocking season, high cost of pellet feed, fluctuating cost of low value fishes which are used as feed for cobia and poaching as major constraints in cage farming.

The genus Lamiopsis (Carcharhinidae) was previously considered to be monotypic, containing only the Broadfin Shark Lamiopsis temminckii (Muller & Henle, 1839) widely distributed in the Indo–West Pacific. However, a recent taxonomic study revealed that the Western Central Pacific populations were a separate species and that L. temminckii was restricted to the northern Indian Ocean. In this study, the paucity of data available for the true L. temminckii was highlighted. Recently collected specimens of L. temm inckii has allowed for a detailed redescription of this species from the northern Arabian Sea to complement the previous taxonomic work on this genus.