Rearing of Labeo bata in sewage-fed fish culture pond

Labeo bata is a highly priced fish which commanding good consumer preference, even if the size is very small (15 to 20 g each), especially in West Bengal. With a view to evaluating the culture potential of this fish, repeated experiments were conducted at the Wastewater Aquaculture Division of the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, West Bengal, during 1991-93 in ponds fed with treated domestic sewage effluent. An average production of 1270.63 kg per ha was obtained within 6 to 10 months for a uniform stocking density of 50,000 seed per ha. The average size attained by the fish in the different sets of experiments varied from 23.3 to 37.9 g as against the initial weight of 0.096 to 0.193 g. Details of management, growth, survival, quantity of sewage used and pond nutrient status and productivity are dealt with in this communication.

Culture potentials of bata, Labeo bata under semi-intensive management system

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) provide food, nutrition, subsistence and supplemental income to a great majority of the people particularly the poor and disadvantaged people of Bangladesh. To date nobody explored the possibilities of culturing these species in combination with the indigenous major carps viz. catla, Catla catla; rohu, Labeo rohita, and mrigal Cirrhinus cirrhosus and grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus. An experiment on the polyculture of carps with a popular SIS, bata (Labeo bata) was carried out to evaluate the production performance of carp-SIS culture in on-farm condition during 15 March to 15 September 2003. Three treatments each having three replications with different stocking densities of bata were tested keeping the carp species combination and stocking density similar in all the treatments viz. treatment 1 (T1), bata (5,000/ha) + catla, rohu and mrigal (5,000/ha at the ratio of 1:1:1) + grass carp (250/ha); treatment 2 (T2), bata (7,500/ha) + catla, rohu and mrigal (5,000/ha at the ratio of 1:1:1) + grass carp (250/ha); and treatment 3 (T3), bata (1 0,000/ha) + catla, rohu and mrigal (5,000/ha at the ratio of 1:1:1) + grass carp (250/ha). After six months rearing, the production obtained were 2,466±77, 2,395±85 and 2,074±72 kg/ha from T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The highest production was obtained from T1, where the stocking density of bata was the minimum (5,000/ha) while the lowest production was obtained from T1 [sic], where the stocking density of bata was maximum (10,000/ha). Significant difference (P<0.05) exists in the production levels as obtained from different treatments. The contribution of bata to total production was 10.31%, 13.96% and 14.38% in case of T1, T2 and T3, respectively.

Polyculture of carp with small indigenous fish, bata, Labeo bata (Ham.) at different stocking densities

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) play very important role in the diet of the people of Bangladesh. Until recently, the possibilities of culture them in consideration with the Indian major carp yet to be explored. In view of the above, an experiment on the polyculture of carps with SIS, bata (Labeo bata) was carried out to evaluate their production performance in the on-farm condition during 15 March to 15 September 2003. Three different stocking densities of bata with carp species were given. After six months of rearing, the productions obtained were 2,466±98 kg/ha, 2,395 ±88 kg/ha and 2,074±94 kg/ha from treatments-1, 2 and 3, respectively. The highest production was obtained from treatment-1, when compared with treatments-1 and 2. The contribution of bata in terms of production was 10.31% in treatment-1, while it was 13.36% and 14.38% in treatments-2 and 3, respectively.

Productivity and seasonal abundance of commercially important fishes of Gobindsagar Reservoir

Fishing experiments with gill nets were carried out at different centres of Gobindsagar reservoir through the years 1964-70. The seasonal abundance of main species of fishes and their zone of distribution were studied. Labeo diplostoma, Labeo bata, Barbus tor and Mystus seenghala are the main fish species of the reservoir. The abundance of the above species were observed to be the highest towards the Lunkhar arm of the reservoir.