CAPTIVE BREEDING AND GROWOUT OF GOLDEN MAHSEER

Dr. Debajit Sarma

Senior Scientist

Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research

Bhimtal, Nainital-263136, Uttarakhand

The important coldwater aquatic resources

Water bodies Area

Steams/ Rivers 10,000 km Natural lakes 20,500 ha Reservoirs 50,000 ha Brackish water lakes 2,500 ha

Mahseer the King of Mahseer the King of Game fishesGame fishes

Tor tor

Tor putitora

Important Species of Mahseer

Tor khudree

Tor mussullah

Tor douronensis Neolissochilus hexagonolepis

Breeds three timesBreeds three times

1.1. January and FebruaryJanuary and February

2.2. May and JuneMay and June

3.3. July to OctoberJuly to October

Distribution

All along the Himalayas,Assam, J&K, Sikkim

Afghanistan,Bangladesh, China, Myanmar,

Nepal and Pakistan

Food and Feeding habit

Omnivorous ( Feeds on algae, insect larvae etc.)

Prefer carnivorous feed during juvenile and herbivorous during adult stages.

Maturity

Male 2+yr

Female 3+yr

Fecundity

3375-8944 nos. ova/kg body weight

NATURAL HABITAT

Causes of depletionCauses of depletion

The ultimate reason for the loss of biodiversity The ultimate reason for the loss of biodiversity and natural resources is and natural resources is directly related to the directly related to the growth in human populationgrowth in human population and the related and the related stresses, which could be, summarised as follows.stresses, which could be, summarised as follows.

• HABITAT DESTRUCTIONHABITAT DESTRUCTION• OVER EXPLOITATIONOVER EXPLOITATION

• WANTON DESTRUCTIONWANTON DESTRUCTION

• AQUATIC POLLUTIONAQUATIC POLLUTION

• INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FISHESINTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FISHES

Inherent constraints in natural breedingInherent constraints in natural breeding

• Extremely low fecundityExtremely low fecundity

• Eggs demersal - can sink in mud and perishEggs demersal - can sink in mud and perish

• Hatching period is too long - 80 to 90 hrsHatching period is too long - 80 to 90 hrs

• Hatchling to free swimming stage - 10 days. Hatchling to free swimming stage - 10 days.

• From egg to free swimming stage for 15 days From egg to free swimming stage for 15 days

they are highly vulnerable to all kinds of they are highly vulnerable to all kinds of

predatorspredators

Artificial propagationArtificial propagation

By collecting brood fish from natural breeding groundsBy collecting brood fish from natural breeding grounds

Induced breeding (hypophysation)Induced breeding (hypophysation)

Natural breeding in pondsNatural breeding in ponds

Mahseer BroodersMahseer Brooders

Chasing

Stripping

FertilizationFertilization

Mixing of eggs with milt Washing of excess milt

Hatchery Pre-requisite

Water flow

1 L/m Incubation & rearing 2000eggs at 20-28oC.

3-4 L/m Rearing 2000 fry (0-3 months) at 20-27oC

4-6 L/m Rearing 1500 fingerlings (4-9months old)

Flow through hatcheryOver head tank 1000 L installed at a height of 5 m above

Hatchery tanks galvanised iron sheets or fibre glass of 200x60x30cm of size

Hatching trays 50x30x10 cm with synthetic netting cloth of 1mm mesh size. 5000-6000 eggs can be stocked

Egg development

Egg development

MahseerMahseer eggs eggs

Embryonic development of mahseer

Larval development of mahseer

Egg and larval development

Colour Lemon yellow/ Brownish golden

Fertilisation 90-99%

Hatching 80-96 hrs at 22-24oC

Hatching 80-85%

MahseerMahseer

FRY FINGERLINGS

Artificial feedingArtificial feeding

Mahseer Seed Ranching

Mahseer RanchingMahseer Ranching

Air transport of eggsAir transport of eggs

To facilitate the distribution of Mahseer seed to To facilitate the distribution of Mahseer seed to distant places, Mahseer eggs were transported distant places, Mahseer eggs were transported in moist cotton by air. Fertilized eggs after water in moist cotton by air. Fertilized eggs after water hardening process were placed between the hardening process were placed between the layers of moist cotton in 2-3 layers and then layers of moist cotton in 2-3 layers and then kept in plastic boxes. As the minimum hatching kept in plastic boxes. As the minimum hatching period is 70 hours, sufficient time is available to period is 70 hours, sufficient time is available to transport the eggs to long distances. The eggs transport the eggs to long distances. The eggs can be hatched in normal manner.can be hatched in normal manner.

Transportation of mahseer seed

Conservation and rehabilitation of endangered mahseers are of national importance to stock those water bodies which are having facilities of natural breeding and nursery ground.

Stop illegal killing by dynamiting or any destructive fishing methods.

Develop suitable device for facilitating the crossing of the barriers during migration.Strict enforcement of closed season for commercial fishing.

Proper sanctuaries of mahseer must be identified and developed.

R & D in Mahseer

R & D in Mahseer

Nutritive artificial deeds for different stages of mahseer development must be developed.

Selective breeding must be adopted for developing healthy and fast growing mahseer.

Pen and cage culture must be taken up near the breeding/chasing areas of brooder in the reservoirs during natural breeding migration.

Intensive extension program must be launched with a view to create awareness among the local people for the protection of mahseer.

Efforts must be made to stock the seed in those water bodies where there is facility of breeding and nursery ground, to enable the fish to develop its own progeny.

SAVE

MAHSEER

An important component of biodiversity

THANK YOU