Ornamental Fish Aquaculture

In News

• Recently, 82 islanders, 77 of them women, were selected and underwent intensive training in Ornamental fish aquaculture.

About

• Community-based ornamental fish aquaculture, using local resources is the first-of-its-kind experiment, as many as 82 islanders, 77 of them women, were selected and underwent intensive training. 
• They have formed groups for ornamental fish aquaculture with technical support from the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR).

Key highlights

• Role of National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR):
  • The NBFGR maintains a germplasm resource center for marine ornamental organisms on Agatti Island for conservation as well as boosting livelihood sources for the islanders. 
  • The support being extended by the NBFGR includes capacity building and hand-holding community aquaculture units maintained by local women to raise captive-bred marine ornamentals, including shrimps, to marketable size.
  • The NBFGR project team on Agatti island will monitor the units and provide technical inputs, till the organisms reach the marketable size.
• Expansion:
  • To expand the activity and enhance the income of women, in addition to the two species of ornamental shrimps, captive-raised clownfish seeds were also supplied to the groups for further rearing.

Significance

• Sustaining Economic life & empowering women:  
  • Helping the islanders, especially women, generate income is important considering that the islands have limited resources, mostly in the form of coconut and tuna fish. 
  • Fishing virtually comes to a halt during the monsoon season, shutting out a key economic activity. 
  • However, ornamental fish aquaculture is expected to sustain the rhythm of economic life in the islands.
• Environment friendly:
  • The experiment in community-based breeding and sale of ornamental fish has been turned into an environment-friendly one, using coconut fronds and leaves as well as deploying solar panels.

More about Ornamental fish farming in India

• About:
  • Ornamental fish culture is the culture of attractive, colourful fishes of various characteristics, which are reared in a confined aquatic system. 
  • There is a great demand for exotic species due to its colour, shape and appearance. 
• Economic contribution:
  • Ornamental fishes of India are contributing about 1% of the total ornamental fish trade. 
    • These fishes are exported to the tune of 54 tons, having the value of Rupees 13.08 crores in 2020-21. 
    • It registerd a growth of 66.55 % in terms of quantity and 20.59% in terms of value in INR. 
• Growth potential:
  • India has great potential in Ornamental fish production due to following factors:
    • Presence of rich biodiversity of species, 
    • Favourable climatic conditions and 
    • Availability of cheap labour. 
  • Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal mainly practice ornamental fish farming in India.
  • About 90% of native species (85% are from northeast India) are collected and reared to meet export demand. 

Source: TH