Integration of freshwater prawn culture with rice farming in Kuttanad, India

The integration of paddy cultivation with prawn/fish culture can become a viable alternative to effectively utilize the vast area of derelict polders (embanked coastal flood plains) in Kuttanad, India. Nearly 55 000 ha of wetlands in Kuttanad are available for paddy cultivation year-round. Around 5 000 ha of the polders are utilized for Macrobrachium rosenbergii culture as a follow-up crop. Of the total area, about 250 ha of fallow polders are utilized for monoculture of M. rosenbergii from March to October, while in 4 750 ha polyculture with Indian and exotic carps is practiced from November to June. Stocking density is 15 000 to 60 000/ha for monoculture of M. rosenbergii, while in polyculture with carps, it is 5 000 to 20 000/ha of prawn and 5 000 to 10 000/ha of fish. Production from monoculture varies from 95 to 1 297 kg/ha whereas production from polyculture systems it is 70 to 500 kg/ha of prawn and 200 - 1 200 kg/ha of fish. Profits range from Rs. 5 000 to 20 000/ha. An evaluation is made of how the present polders of Kuttanad are best utilized for culture of M. rosenbergii following different systems of integrated farming and how the integration is useful in the aquaculture sustainability of Kuttanad, a tropical wetland ecosystem.

Marine fisheries of Karnataka State, India

This contribution provides an overview of the marine capture fisheries off the coast of Karnataka State, India. It covers the main fisheries and fishing gears, production trends (by main species /groups and gears), assessment results and fisheries management. Marine fisheries production in the State increased from about 57,000 t/year during the 1950s to a peak of about 250,000 in 1989, declining to about 150,000 t/year by 1995. Substantive changes have been noted in dominant gears and species groups contributing to the catch between 1980-84 and 1990-95. Results of assessments indicate that many commercially important stocks are overfished, thus requiring a reduction in fishing effort.

Length-weight relationships of tuna baitfish from the Lakshadweep Islands, India

The present study reports the length-weight relationship of 11 species of baitfish from the pole and line fishery at Minicoy and S. delicatulus from the fishery at Agatti, Bangaram and Perumal Par.

Length-weight relationships of Penaeus monodon reared in semi-intensive culture systems of Kerala, India

The results of a study on length-weight relationships of Penaeus monodon, reared in fertilized ponds in Kerala, India, and fed three different supplementary feeds are presented.

Community-based aquaculture in India: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

Community-based aquaculture founded on the principles of common interest groups working together regardless of sex and age has been an effective tool for implementing scientific aquaculture programs in India. Water bodies that do not interset villagers are targeted for use to avoid communal problems. Farmers who share common interests are identified and organized and a team leader chosen among them. An inventory of resources using the SWOT analysis is made. A participatory approach to identify major problems, socioeconomic and biophysical constraints is used and appropriate interventions are planned. This process is then evaluated and the results of the impact assessment are provided to research/extension /policy planners for setting directions and priorities for further improvement. The potential for expanding community aquaculture for generating self-employment and improving food security of the rural poor as well as improving the environmental conditions of the villages in India can be further tapped.

Incidence of human pathogenic bacteria in shrimp feeds - a study from India

The incidence of various human pathogenic bacteria in commercially available and home-made shrimp feeds used on some farms in India was analyzed. The Total Heterotrophic Bacteria in the commercial feed samples ranged between 103–105 cfu g-1 and those in the farm-made feeds between 106-107 cfu g-1. No bacteria of significance to human health were found to be associated with any of the commercial feed samples analyzed, while farm-made feeds analyzed during the study showed a high incidence of various human pathogens such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Possible modes of contamination in feeds and ways to prevent them are discussed.

Economic evaluation of marine fisheries in India for sustainable production and coastal zone development

The article highlights briefly the economics of different types of fishing units operating along the Indian coast; analyzes the exploitation trend of major marine fishery resources in relation to its potential yield; and suggests policy measures for optimum exploitation of resources, conservation and management.

Diversification of aquaculture for empowerment to fisheries through institution village linkage programme (IVLP) in Kerala, India

Technology Assessment and Refinement through the Institution Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) is the latest participatory extension model successfully undertaken by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in India. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has been implementing IVLP since 2001 to assess and refine the technologies of the coastal agro ecosystems at Elamkunnapuzha village (Vypeen Island) in the Ernakulam District of Kerala. A series of need based location specific technology intervention plans have been introduced to overcome the social and biological constraints on farming practices in fisheries, livestock and agriculture, and implemented with the active participation of the stakeholders. The inferences drawn from IVLP ultimately form a package suitable for enhanced production in the costal agro ecosystem for replication to other areas with similar characteristics. This paper gives a brief account of the treatment packages applied in fisheries through various technological interventions and discusses the consequent yield and benefits obtained. The ‘integrated whole village development’ through the involvement of multi institutional teams and a participatory approach was accorded prime importance in the IVLP of Elamkunnapuzha, with a greater emphasis on marginal and small farmers and specifically focusing on women for poverty alleviation and equity under the coastal agro ec

Monoclonal antibodies in fish and shellfish health management in India

The paper describes the superiority of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) over conventional polyclonal antisera. Studies undertaken indicate that Aeromonas hydrophila isolates are highly heterogenous and variation exists even between isolates from a farm, requiring a large number of MAbs for classification and use of information in vaccine development. However, some of the MAbs could be used for detection of homologous isolates in fish kidney by immunodot assay and evaluation and standardization of biofilm of A. hydrophila for oral vaccination in carps.

Fifty years of reservoir fisheries in Mettur Dam, India: some lessons

The paper outlines briefly the history of the fishery in a dam reservoir in India. The reservoir was very productive in its early years, with support from a seed farm, ice plant, cold storage and regulated entry of fishery. However, once entry restrictions were relaxed and closed fishing seasons no longer enforced, the yield of fish from the reservoir declined.

Length-weight relationship of some deep-sea fish inhabiting the continental slope beyond 250m depth along the west coast of India

The length–weight relationships of 22 species of deep-sea fishes inhabiting the continental slopes beyond 250 m depth along the West Coast of India are presented. The parameters a and b of the equation W=a Lb were estimated. The fish samples were collected from trawl surveys during 1999 to 2001 on board the FORV Sagar Sampada at a depth range of 250 to 600 m in the area between 7°N and 20°N latitude. The value of b ranged from 1.94 to 3.36.

Padal fishing - a unique fishing method in the Ashtamudi Estuary of Kerala (south India)

Bush park fishing / padal fishing is an indigenous fishing method widely employed in the Ashtamudi estuary of Kerala (south India). An artificial reef made from twigs and leaves of trees is planted in the shallow areas of the estuary. The aim is to harvest fish that find shelter in these structures for the purpose of feeding and breeding. Though the State Department of Fisheries has banned this method of fishing in the inland waters of Kerala, 400 padals are operating in this estuary. About 300 of them are anchored in the western parts of the estuary (west Kayal). Fish are harvested in the padals at monthly intervals almost round the year and this results in the destruction of a sizeable quantity of juveniles and sub-adults of the commercially important fishes, such as Pearl spot and mullets, from the estuary. These padals pose a major threat to the sustainability of the fishery resources of this estuary and, therefore, need to be phased out by providing alternative occupations for the fishermen who are dependant on the padals.

Conservation and management of marine fishery resources of Kerala State, India

The highly productive fisheries of Kerala, India, are suffering from overexploitation. Use of unsuitable fishing gears that result in a high level of wasteful bycatch and destruction of egg bearing and juvenile fish should be controlled. This paper makes some suggestions for monitoring and conservation of the fisheries in Kerala.