Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT and Education Nara Lokesh met Professor Kyall Zenger of James Cook University’s Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSTFA) in Brisbane, Australia, to discuss collaboration opportunities aimed at strengthening aquaculture development in the state.

Professor Zenger, a global expert in aquaculture genetics, leads research on genetic improvement in tropical species such as Black Tiger shrimp and Barramundi fish. During the meeting, Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s leadership in aquaculture and sought CSTFA’s expertise in introducing genetic tools to enhance productivity, disease resistance, and sustainability in local shrimp and fish farming practices.

Minister Lokesh emphasized the importance of adopting AI-based monitoring systems to reduce losses and stabilize production in aquaculture. He also requested support in promoting water recycling, feed optimization, and environmentally sustainable farming practices. Training programs for Andhra Pradesh’s aquaculture farmers on modern breeding methods, genetic selection, and sustainable management were also discussed as part of the collaboration plan.

Through this partnership, Andhra Pradesh aims to become a global hub for high-efficiency, climate-resilient aquaculture, improving both productivity and profitability while ensuring ecological balance.