Assam making good strides in breeding of native, exotic ornamental fish

GUWAHATI: The 'Integrated Ornamental Fish Farming Unit' at the 'Aquaculture & Biodiversity Centre', Department of Zoology in Gauhati University, is making good strides in terms of the production of indigenous and exotic ornamental fish.

The unit is set up with support from the 'National Fisheries Development Board', Hyderabad along with the 'Aquaculture and Biodiversity Centre' and the State Fisheries Department.

Managing Director of FISHFED (Assam Apex Cooperative Fish Marketing & Processing. Federation Ltd (FISHFED). Department of Fisheries, Dr Dhrubajyoti Sharma who has been associated with the project since its inception, said that it has been a story of success insofar as production of indigenous fish of different species is concerned.

A total of 70 species of ornamental value have been procured from different locations of Assam and other states of North East Region which are reared in natural habitat in nine ponds covering an area of 16 acres under the National Development Fisheries Board's Rs.1.36 crore funded project.

The brooder's bank for ornamental fish houses 70 aquariums, 10 cisterns, carp hatchery, air breathing fish hatchery unit and a laboratory. Six units of modified ornamental fish hatcheries have been installed with facilities like ozone generator, oxygen concentrators with an overhead tank to ensure infection free water for the brooders. Dr.Sharma added that Assam with its vast water resources in the form of rivers, water bodies and ponds have immense potential for production and trading of indigenous ornamental fish to different parts of the world.

Pratul Deka, Fisheries Development Officer said that the Fish brooder bank helps to produce quality and improved fish seed in substantial quantity to fish farmers as well as hatchery owners.

A pilot project on ornamental fishes under NDFB is also underway. Three clusters have been formed comprising women fish farmers. Matsyagandha Ornamental Society at Dhing under Nagaon district, Jagaran Ornamental Fishery Development Society at Krishnai under Goalpara district and Amranga Ornamental Fishery Development Society at Mirza under Kamrup district have come up, stated a press release.

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