Amur carp variety — no small fry for aquaculturists

FAST GROWERS: Each fish attains a weight of 600-700 gm in about six months.

Marine creatures such as shrimp, prawns are grown mainly for export and fresh water fishes such as carp, katla and rogu are grown for the local market.

Fishing shortage

Though, at present, there is a serious shortage of fishes in the ocean due to over fishing and natural calamities, there continues to be a good demand for marine products in several countries.

A good and viable alternative to overcome this shortage is for farmers to grow fresh water fishes in local water bodies such as ponds, lakes and tanks.

The advantage of growing fresh water fishes is that unlike marine fishes, fresh water fishes can be monitored for their growth and weight to ensure better harvest.

New breed

Researchers at the Inland Fisheries Division, Inland Fisheries Research and Information Centre, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Hebbal campus, Bangalore have developed a new fresh water carp breed called Amur for small scale farmers.

"Amur has an elongated body, is fast growing and late maturing (in about 12 months) and spawns (lays eggs) throughout the year. Each fish attains a weight of 600-700 gm in about six months," said Dr. Y. Basavaraju, Professor and Head, Inland Fisheries Research and Information Centre. "About 5,000 -7, 000 fingerlings (small fishes of about 2 months) are required for raising in one hectare.

Normally we recommend about 5,000 fingerlings per hectare in monoculture (growing single species in a pond).

"In poly culture (more than one species in the same pond) about 7,500 fingerlings are required."

From a hectare, about 2,000 kg of fish can be harvested according to him. The major advantage of this breed is that it is suitable for growing in different water bodies such as small tanks, farm ponds, and large water bodies."

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Source: The Hindu

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