Different Fish Culture Practices Feasible in Hill Region for Production Enhancement

Sullip Kumar Majhi, PhD

Division of FisheriesICAR Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya

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A milestone may be near. After growing steadily, particularly in the last four decades, aquaculture is for the first time set to contribute half of the fish consumed by the human population worldwide. This reflects not only the vitality of the aquaculture sector but also global economic growth and continuing developments in fisheries sector (FAO, 2010)

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WORLD AQUACULTURE SCENARIO

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INDIAN FISHERIES SCENARIO (With reference to NEH)

Major Indian states contributing1.Andhra Pradesh2.Gujrat3.West Bengal

Major NE states contributing1.Assam2.Tripura3.Manipur

Courtesy: FISHSTAT, FAO

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Composite fish culture

Integrated farming system

Involving three Indian fish species

Involving two components

Involving three components

Involving four components

Involving three exotic fish species

Fish + rice Fish + rice + vegetables

Fish + duck + pig + vegetables

Involving six species (Indian and exotic fish species)

Fish + poultry Fish + rice + fruits Fish + duck + vegetables + fruits

Fish + duck Fish + poultry + fruits

Fish + pig Fish + duck + fruits

Fish + cattle Fish + pig + vegetables

Fish + vegetables

Fish + fruits

Fish + flowers

CULTURE PRACTICE FEASIBLE IN HILL REGION

A. Composite Fish Culture

• The fast growing compatible different species of Indian and Exotic carps of different feeding habits are stocked and cultured in the same water body, so that all its ecological niches are utilized by the fishes. This technique of fish culture is called Composite Fish culture or Polyculture or Mixed Farming

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General management practices

Pre-stockingStocking

Pos-stocking

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Pre-stocking management

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a) Weed clearanceWhy?• Aquatic weeds reduce the living space available

for fish• Prevents entry of sunlight into the pond• Consume nutrients from the pond – affects the

production of fish food organisms (plankton)• Causes obstruction for harvesting of fish• Excessive growth – upsets oxygen balance

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Unmanaged weed infested pond

Managed pond

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b) Eradication of unwanted fishWhy?• The unwanted fish compete for food, space and

oxygen with the fingerlings of cultivable carps • Some fishes may prey upon the carp fingerlingsHow?• Dewatering ensures complete removal of

unwanted fish• In ponds, where dewatering is not possible,

mahua oil cake @ 2000-2500 kg/ha-m depth is recommended

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c) ManuringWhy?• Manuring ensures production of natural fish

food in the pond (phytoplankton & zooplankton)

How?• If mahua is applied, organic manure (OM)

should be applied 7 days after mahua application @ 5000 kg/ha

• If mahua is not applied, OM should be applied @ 10,000 kg/ha, 15 days before the stocking of fish seeds

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d) Liming• Liming is done after 7 days of OM applicationWhy?• Liming is done to correct the acidity • It also helps to keep the pond hygienic

Stocking management

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a) Stocking density• A stocking density of 7500-8000 nos. of

fingerlings/ha is recommended• Fingerlings of 100-150 mm size are ideal for

stocking, particularly in the colder climatic conditions of NEH Region

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b) Species composition

Surface feeders

Column feeders

Bottom feeders

Indian carps Exotic carps

• Lower altitudes (upto 2500 ft msl) with warm temperature – 20% Catla : 20% Rohu : 15% Mrigal : 20% Silver carp : 10% Grass carp : 15% Common carp

• Medium altitudes (upto 3500 ft msl) - 20% Catla : 10% Rohu : 10% Mrigal : 30% Silver carp : 10% Grass carp : 20% Common carp

• Higher altitudes (above 3500 ft & below 4500 ft msl) - 40% Silver carp : 25% Grass carp : 35% Common carp

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Species having potential to be included in composite culture

Labeo gonius

Java puthi

Labeo dero

Chocolate mahseer

Post stocking management

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a) Liming: Liming is done once in a month based on the water pHSoil and water pH Soil and water type Liming dose (kg/ha)

4.0-5.0 Highly acidic 2000

5.0-6.0 Acidic 1200

6.0-6.5 Little acidic 1000

6.5-7.0 Neutral 400

Mixing of lime Application of lime

Post stocking management

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b) Fertilization

a) Organic manure- Cow dung @ 12000kg/ha/yrb) Inorganic manure- Urea @ 250kg, Ammonium sulphate @450kg, SSP @ 300kg/ha/yr

Inorganic manure is normally applied after 15 days of application of organic manure

Fertilization should not be done during cloudy weather and when algal blooms appears

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Supplementary FeedingRice polish and M.O.Cake in a ratio of 1:1 by weight @ 3% of the

body weight of fish per dayThe feed can be adjusted by regular monitoring of food

consumption from the feeding traysFeed is administered twice daily – morning and eveningRice polish and M.O.C are mixed together with some water to

make a doughthe feed is then kept in bamboo trays and placed in the pond10-15 trays will be required for a 1 ha. Pond Aquatic and terrestrial vegetation including fodder grasses and

vegetable wastes can be supplemented for grass carp

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b) Raking• Raking of pond bottom is done, a day after

liming• Raking can be done by netting or by

dragging branches of tree or by a rope tied with bricks

• Raking helps in proper mixing of lime with the bottom sediment and also helps in the release of obnoxious gases trapped at the bottom

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d) Growth and health care

• The growth and health of fish is to be regularly monitored by periodic netting

• Quantity of feed needs to be adjusted based on the growth increment of fish

• A bath in potassium permanganate solution is necessary for the netted fishes, before releasing back into the pond

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Checking the growth of fish

Potassium permanganate bath for netted fish

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e) Harvesting:If managed properly, a fish production of 3000-4000 kg/ha/yr can be obtained, with a net profit of Rs.150,000-200,000/-

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Months ActivitiesPre-stocking managementFeb-March Weed clearance, Dewatering and removal of unwanted fish.Mar-April Dyke repairing side slope maintenance, embankment repair, bottom soil correction by application of lime and

application of basal dosage of organic manure after 7-10 days of application of lime.1/4 th or 25% of the quantity of lime and cow dung in pond bed as basal dosage. Maintain side slope as per the soil texture.

April-May Stocking of Seed (fingerlings): Supplementary feeding @ 5% per Kg body weight, Liming. Manuring and fertilization. Keep embankment clean. Test netting fish helth monitoring, Daily supplementary feeding with Rice polish (RP) and Mustard Oil cake (MOC). Chop the grasses for feeding the Grass carp.

Post-stocking managementMay-June Liming, Supplementary feeding, Manuring and fertilization. Keep embankment clean. Test netting. Fish health

monitoring. Supplementary feeding with RP and MOC on daily basis. Chopped grasses to Grass carp.

June-July Liming, Supplementary feeding, Manuring and fertilization. Keep embankment clean. Test netting. Fish health monitoring. Supplementary feeding with RP and MOC on daily basis. Chopped grasses to Grass crap.

Aug-Sept Liming, Supplementary feeding, Manuring and fertilization. Keep embankment clean. Control algal bloom. Test netting. Partial harvesting for fish health monitoring. Supplementary feeding with RP and MOC on daily basis @ 3-4% Kg body weight. Chopped grasses to Grass crap. Partial harvesting should be 40% out of the total fingerling stocked.

Sept-Oct Liming, Supplementary feeding, Manuring and fertilization. Control algal bloom. Test netting for fish health monitoring. Supplementary feeding with RP and MOC @ 3% kg body weight on daily basis. Chopped grasses to Grass carp.

Oct-Nov Liming, Supplementary feeding. Manuring and fertilization. Control algal bloom. Test netting for fish health monitoring. Partial Harvesting, Supplementary feeding with Rice polish and Mustard Oil cake @ 3% kg body weight on daily basis. Chopped grasses to Grass carp.

Nov-Dec Harvesting and marketing of the fishes.

ANNUAL ACTIVITY CALENDER FOR 800-900m MSL

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B. Integrated Fish Farming

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