Fisheries Development
Focus Areas for follow-up
The State fisheries Departments are engaged in an array of fisheries developmental activities. In this context, Fishing Chimes takes the privilege of listing 14 developmental topics to serve the purpose of looking into the present status of promotion of the developmental progress for what they are worth:
a) Improvement of productivity both in capture and culture Fisheries: The present level of Aquaculture productivity in the county is only 2.5 tonnes /ha on an average which could be increased further. There is also great opportunity to enhance the productivity from culture-based capture fisheries resources such as reservoirs and other wetlands.
• Resource-based approach,/classification of resources into (1) Capture fisheries based reservoirs, major tanks, (2) small tanks and ponds ideal for semi-intensive aquaculture (3) seasonal and short seasonal tanks – adoption of suitable fish species for culture in them and which can be harvested within a duration of 4 to 5 months. Development of breeding technology for such fishes, selection of fish species depending on the consumer preference such as Labeo bata in West Bengal, Jharkhand and nearby areas and (4) fish farmer-owned fish farming ponds where intensive or semi-intensive fish farming is possible.
• Fixing productivity targets for each category of water resource, based on the management system that can be adopted, developing appropriate management strategies for each type of resource, based on the local conditions and existing leasing and management practices. If required, region-wise management strategies have to be developed and practised.
b) Diversification of Aquaculture: Its vertical and horizontal expansion: Presently only about 14% of the available area is utilised for brackishwater farming, it is learnt. India has not as yet started any mariculture activities. Aquaculture could be expanded to new areas such as water-logged areas, saline and alkaline soils and soils unsuitable for agriculture. It can also be diversified with introduction of new species and new technologies for promoting intensive aquaculture systems for enhancement of production. Diversification of aquaculture into new systems is another option.
c) Augmentation of supply of fish seed of quality in adequate quantity: The present availability of fish seed is about 32,000 million fry /annum, while the requirement is to the tune of 48 billion fry. The quality of seed supplied is also partly up to the mark. Thus, the gap between demand and supply of seed is very huge and the gap has to be bridged by way of promoting adequate supply of quality seed.
• Indian major carps are the major group of fish species utilised for fish farming in the country. In this context, there has to be a national project for genetic improvement of major carps. Further, fish farms at State level have to be oriented towards national level propagation and supply of genetically improved fish seed for further production and supply to farms is needed.
• Development of more effective broodstock management strategy, feed administration and environment regulation system are needed.
d) Development of low cost but effective farm-made feed made with locally available raw materials: A large number of farmers are in the small scale category and they cannot afford to spend money for having costly artificial feed. Using the locally available plant and animal based by-products, the farmers can produce low cost feed ‘on-farm’ in small feed producing devices. Presently, most of the farmers are using locally available raw materials like rice bran, oil cake etc., for feeding the fish. Use of artificial feed will also improve productivity to an extent.
e) Introduction of new viable species that have good market demand for commercial aquaculture: Indian aquaculture is presently based mostly on indigenous carps and to some extent on some varieties of Chinese carps and certain species of shrimps. There are several species, which command high price in markets. These are Tilapia, Pangasius, Pacu, L. gonius, cobia, pompano, Sea bass etc. Introduction of L.vannamei has been received with overwhelming support from aquafarmers.
• a).Promotion of indigenous fish species of regional importance for culture.
There are many commercially important and regionally preferred fish species across the country such as catfishes, murrels, medium carps, small indigenous fish species etc. which could be promoted.
f) Health management of fishes/crustaceans under farming: As in any livestock sector, Disease is a major concern in aquaculture also. Therefore, development of suitable health management strategies is critical in the development of aquaculture. Adoption of Better Management Practices and other disease management strategies are very important in this regard and these have to be followed.
g) Application of biotechnology and molecular biology in fish diagnostics to tackle fish diseases: In order to tackle the diseases and for improving health management in aquaculture, development of diagnostic tools likes ELISA, PCR etc. is significant. Application of Biotechnology and molecular biology is very important to develop such tools, vaccines, immunostimulant kits etc.
h) Genetic improvement and domestication of species in aquaculture: We have been using seed produced in hatcheries for stocking the water bodies. Lot of inbreeding has been taking place in the ponds attached to such hatcheries. Therefore a planned breeding programme and application of genetics in this respect will improve the quality and desirable attributes in seed. Also, not much of effort has been made in the domestication of certain species for breeding purposes, especially in respect of those of marine origin. Therefore, application of domestication techniques is very essential in supplying good quality broodstock to farmers in the line for seed supply.
i) Development and demonstration of viable technologies and practices for aquaculture of high value table fish on mission-mode basis: We have been carrying out only pond-based farming. However, there are several other types of farming systems like Cage farming, pen farming, re-circulatory farming etc. It is the need of the hour to develop and demonstrate such technologies to our farmers and entrepreneurs so as to enable them to adopt the same for increasing production and for taking up aquafarming in new areas.
j) Ecosystem approach for fisheries (EAF) and aquaculture management through community participation: In order to reduce the impact of to environmental degradation, pollution, disease risks etc, a wholistic approach is needed in the promotion of sustainable fisheries and in the management of aquaculture. The EAF represents a move away from present conventional zonal fisheries management systems. It focuses only on the sustainable harvest of target species towards systems and decision-making processes that balance environmental health with human and social well-being within improved governance frameworks. This will not only improve the environment, and sustainable harvests, but also ensures good market access for fish and fishery products.
k) Development of Integrated farming along with livestock and other farming practices: Aquaculture in India is a small scale activity that aims at providing livelihood to those who are dependent on it. If it is integrated with other activities related to livestock and agriculture through proper integration, we can make use of several resources at a time, recycle several wastes for productive purposes, besides enhancing farm productivity and revenue for the farmers.
l) Development of Infrastructure for farming and post harvest handling: There has been lot of wastage in post harvest handling (up to 20 to 30%) in fisheries. The reason for this is that we do not have adequate infrastructure in the form of landing centres, cold storages, ice plants, pre-processing and processing plants etc. If proper infrastructure is developed, not only the waste can be reduced but also better value addition can be assured for the produce coming out of capture or culture fisheries.
m) Development of markets and cold chain: It is very essential to have a good infrastructure to provide hygienic and clean markets to facilitate availability of quality fish to the end users and consumers. So as to ensure quality management from farm to plate, establishment of cold chain is very essential and critical so as to ensure quality of the product and its food safety.
n) Training and capacity building: For meeting the above challenges, it is very essential that a cadre of professionals and Para-professionals is created through human resources development as needed.
