‘Ornamental fish breeding for GoM can provide livelihood’

Despite COVID-19 pandemic, some coastal communities in Maharashtra have managed to make a livelihood by rearing wild decorative fish. Scientists concerned within the effort say the same measure may assist coastal communities from Thoothukudi to Rameswaram.

At Thane and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, scientists from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (NBFGR-ICAR) taught clusters of 8-10 individuals to rear clown fish. Already the NBFGR-ICAR had been concerned in such coaching within the Lakshadweep islands.

In Maharashtra, the local people was skilled below Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana to earn a livelihood. Kuldeep Lal, Director, ICAR, NBFGR, Lucknow, who’s overseeing the undertaking, stated the main focus was on indigenous species with decorative worth.

The communities have been supplied the experience and facility to rear high-value species of their yard. “We recycle seawater. In Thane creek, we made a master collection of clown fish species. India has 16 species, of which we are rearing 10. Among the, two more commercially important species were developed for seed production. Even during COVID-19 in the first trial, Each fish was sold for ₹280 in Thane,” he provides.

Such services can be replicated within the Gulf of Mannar (GoM) area, he stated. “The GoM has native clown fish variety and there are people in areas such as Pichavaram where mangrove dwellers can have additional income. The State government can develop a programme to train clusters of 8-10 people to rear the fish. It will be a source of income to the local communities, especially when there is no catch for days,” he stated.

The programme could possibly be developed as a self-help group mannequin the place ladies can rear within the yard and earn extra revenue, he stated.

T.T. Ajith Kumar, Principal Scientist on the NBFGR, stated in such grasp services the communities can be supplied hands-on coaching “so that they do not go to sea to collect wild species”.

“The Forest department is trying to stop illegal collection but in places like Palk Bay region it continues unabated. The State should come forward to set up a marine ornamental village. We have standardised the low-cost technology to breed marine ornamental fish. We breed and rear the fish for a month and later supply the month-old reared babies. They will rear them for two more months after which it is sold the market,” he defined. The neighborhood has to take a position simply an hour within the morning and night.