Barb Fish

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A team of scientists at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) has standardised the techniques for artificial breeding of Olive barbs (Kuruva Paral) and Filament barb (Kalakkodiyan)

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They have developed brood stocks for Highfin barb (Kooral) and Carnatic carp (Pachilavetti).
These freshwater species of barbs and carp used to be found widely in the Idamalayar Dam, Bhoothathankettu, and the Kol fields of Thrissur district.
However, indiscriminate fishing and changes in habitat conditions have brought these species, especially Kuruva Paral, to the brink of extinction.
Conservation measures
- The conservation measures being taken up by Kufos are supported under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-India High Range Landscape project that also aims to help trained aquaculturists among Adivasis to take up farming of these freshwater species.
- The brood stocks for Kooral and Pachilavetti have been stored at the freshwater aquaculture facility at Kufos
- The university has also set up a hatchery at Idamalayar with the support of the UNDP.

Olive barbs

It is very widely distributed all over India in rivers and tanks. It attains a length of 31 cm.
It breeds during monsoon in running waters amongst submerged boulders and vegetation .
In India it is widespread (except peninsular India south of Krishna River), and is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Pakistan .
IUCN Status :Least Concern

Filament barb

It is a common fish found inhabiting a whole array of habitats, both in the hill streams and streams of the lowlands and wetlands.
It occurs in lowland, upper and middle reaches of rivers and also in estuaries, reservoirs and marshes.
It is widely distributed across peninsular India, in the east flowing Cauvery, Krishna and Tamiraparani rivers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and throughout the west flowing coastal floodplain rivers of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa.
IUCN Status :Least Concern

Source:TH

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