FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

FISHERIES NOTES

 Recognized as a Sunrise Sector, the fisheries sector plays an important role in the Indian economy.
 India is home to more than 10% of the global fish biodiversity and is one of the 17- mega biodiversity
rich countries.
 Fisheries and aquaculture witnessed manifold rise in its production during past decades, from 5 lakh
tons in 1950-51 to 161.87 lakh tones in FY 2021-22.
 Fisheries Sector has exhibited an average double-digit annual growth of 10.87 percent since 2014-15.
Fish production reached an all-time high of 161.87 lakh tones during 2021-22.
 India has become the 3rd largest fish producer and the 4th largest exporter of fish and fisheries
products taking Brand India from Local to Global.
 The share of fisheries sector in the total GDP (at current prices) increased from 0.40% in 1950-51 to
1.07% of the total GDP.
 It accounts for 7.56% of global production and contributing about 1.24% to the country's Gross Value
Added (GVA).
 Among the States, Andhra Pradesh (27.4%) and West Bengal (13.8%) together produce about 41% of
the country’s total fish production.
 Almost every State in India produces inland fish to a certain extent whereas top six States account for
about three fourth of the country’s total inland fish production.
 Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh together account for half of the fresh water
production in the country.
 Gujarat, with 19% of the total marine fish production, is the leading marine fish producing State
followed by Andhra Pradesh (16.4%) and Tamil Nadu (13.5%).

AREA OF THE COUNTRY 3.29 MILLION SQ. KM.

LENGTH OF COASTLINE 8118 kms
EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE 2.02 million sq. km
CONTINENTAL SHELF AREA 0.53 million sq. km
FISH PRODUCTION (2021-22) 16.187 MMT
PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION OF FISHERIES 1.24%
SECTOR IN INDIA ECONOMY(GDP): 2021-22
PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION OF ECONOMY 7.28%
FISHERIES SECTOR IN INDIA AGRICULTURE
SECTOR(GDP): 2021-22
Percentage share of Item-wise Export of Fisheries Products (2020-21)

India’s

Item-wise Export of Marine Products:

In US $ terms, during 2020-21

 Frozen Shrimp: 74.31%

 Frozen Fish: 6.75%
 Frozen Cattle Fish: 3.73%
 Frozen Squid: 4.59%
 Dried items: 2.63%

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

 Live Items: 0.55%

 Chilled Items: 1.09%
 Others: 6.35%

IMP TERMINOLOGY

1. Ichthyology: scientific study of fishes, including, as is usual with a science that is concerned with a
large group of organisms, a number of specialized sub disciplines: e.g., taxonomy, anatomy (or
morphology), behavioral science (ethology), ecology, and physiology.

2. Fish farm – locations used to grow populations of aquatic organisms, primarily fish.

3. Fish Hatchery – one form of a fish farm, managed with the intent of resupplying native wild
populations in natural environments.

4. Ornamental fish – are small fish, such as koi, which are typically grown to be kept in aquariums or
small landscape ponds.

5. Culture tanks – Artificial holding areas used to rear fish farm stocks.

6. Anadromous fish – migratory fish that live in salt water but breed in fresh water.

7. Catadromous fish – migratory fish that live in fresh water but breed in salt water.

8. Amphidromous fish – migratory fish that live in both fresh and salt water, independent of breeding.

9. Potamodromous fish – migratory fish that move within fresh water only.

10. Oceanodromous fish – migratory fish that move within salt water only.

11. Fish meal – commercially processed food source used in fish farming as a source of protein for the
fish stock.

12. Fry – Development stage of fish immediately after the larvae stage, at an age of less than a week.

13. Fingerling – Development stage of fish following the fry stage and continuing into the first three to
four months of life.

14. Yearling – Development stage of fish following the fingerling stage and lasting until approximately
one year of age.

15. Brood stock – fish of any particular species which are raised for reproduction purposes.

16. Overfishing – detrimental practice of removing more of a natural aquatic species than what natural
reproduction can support.

17. Snagging: A method of catching fish by jerking an unabated hook through the water.

18. Tagging: Marking or attached a tag to an individual or group of individual fish so that can be
identified on recapture. Tagging is used by a biologist to study the movement, migration, population size
or activity patterns of fish.

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

19. Tubing: A float fishing term that means to float down a river, stream or using a float tube in lake
while fishing.

20. Angleworm: Any live earthworm placed on a fishing hook.

21. Angling: Usually refers to the recreational catching of fish by hook and line.

22. Culture tanks – Artificial holding areas used to rear fish farm stocks.

23. Fish husbandry – the breeding and rearing of fish for a variety of reasons.

24. Polyculture-This is an practice where more than one species of aquatic organisms are cultured in the
same pond, in order to effectively utilize the full ecological niches of the pond ecosystem.

25. Buffalo fish: A heavy boiled carp like fish that can weigh up to 39 pounds/17.69 kg that are found in
some of the Salt River chain of lakes.

26. Cray fish: A small crustacean found in fresh water. Cray fish are not native to Arizona. Also called
crawdads.

27. Gear: Any tools used to catch fish, such as rod and reel, hook, and line, and line, nets, traps, spears
and baits.

28. Inactive fish: Fish that are not in a feeding mood, sometimes referred to as having lockjaw.

29. Re-stocking: The practice of releasing hatchery- reared fish forms the hatcheries in to ponds,
streams, rivers, or lakes.

30. Pond culture (Kitchen Fisheries) this involves culturing fish in small ponds. This practice is quite
common in Bengal. Proper management is carried on till fish attains full size. They are also protected
from diseases.

FISHERY DISEASE

1. Parasitic
Bacteria, fungi, protozoans, worms, leeches and copepods
2. Non-parasitic
Disorders associated with nutritional deficiency and sudden changes in abiotic and biotic factors

`# Causative Organisms Disease Symptoms Treatment

1 Bacteria Pseudomonas Fin and tail not While line on the 1 minute dip
margin of the fin; fin treatment in 500
rays become brittle and ppm copper
start breaking. sulphate solution.
Aero monas salminicida Furunculosis Open sores or ulcers on Dip treatment for
the body. 1 minute in
1:2000 copper
sulphate solution
Aero monas for 3-4 days.
Punctate Dropsy Accumulation of fluid Dip treatment in 5
inside the body cavity; ppm potassium

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

scale protrusion; permanganate

exophthalmic solution for 2
condition. minutes.
Eye disease Cornea of eye becomes Chloromycetin (8-
vascularized and later 10 mg/litre) bath
becomes opaque; for 1 hour for 2-3
eyeball gets decayed. days.

2 Fungl Saprolegnia Water-mould Dies after ulceration or Dip treatment for

parasiticia disease exfoliation of skin 3 seconds in
(Saprolegniasis) followed by 1:10000 solution
hemorrhage; blindness; of malachite
tufts of white hair –like green or for 5-10
out-growth in the minutes in 3%
affected region. common salt
solution or 1:1000
solution of
potassium
permanganate.
3 Virus Rhabdovirus Viral Anemia; pale No known cure of
hemorrhagic discoloration of gill; VHS. Prevention is
septicemia (VHS) swelling of eyes and the best approach
belly; edema of to control like
muscles; inflammation other viral
of intestine; anus diseases.
becomes protruded. Contaminated
water should be
thoroughly
disinfected before
use.
Protozoans Ichthyophthiriasis Small whitish-cysts of 5days bathing in 2
Ichthyophthirius (White-spot about 1 mm diameter ppm methylene
multifiliis disease) on the skin, gills and blue; hourly dip
fins. treatment in
1:5000 formalin
solution for 7-10
days.
Myxobolus Luciopercae - - Round or rice –shaped All infected fish
cysts on the gills. should be
Myxobolus exiguous Knot disease Small knots in the skin destroyed or
of common carp. burnt.
All infected fish
should be
destroyed or
burnt.
Myxobolus Pfeiffer Boil disease Large boils varying Bath in 3%
from the size of a nut common salt

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

to that of a hen’s egg solution or in

on several parts of 1:2500 formalin
body. solution for 10
minutes.
Sporozoans Pox disease Small milky –white Intra-peritoneal
spots raised 1-2 mm injection with 1
above the surface of ml of a 1%
skin. solution of arsenic
compound, Arycil.
Costia necatrix Costiasis Bluish – coating on the Bath in 3%
skin; lesions as irregular common salt
patches. solution or in
1:2500 formalin
solution for 10
minutes.
Myxosoma cerebral is Whirling disease Caudal bend, deformity Destroy all
of the oral region and infected fish by
blackening of tail applying
region. quicklime (pond
disinfectant) at
the rate of 2t/ha.
5 Trematodes Gyrodactylosis Fading of colours; Dip treatment in
Gyrodactylogyrus sp. Dactylogyrosis drooping of scales; 5% common salt
Datylogyrus sp. peeling of skin. solution or in
1:5000 formalin
solution for 5
minutes.
Diplostomulum sp. Diplostomiasis Small black nodules of Dip treatment in
Diplostomum sp (Black-spot about 1-5 mm diameter 3:100000 picric
disease) in the affected region. acid for 1 hour;
Di-n-butyl tin
oxide at the rate
of 250 mg/kg
body weight.
Hemistomum Worm cataract Whitish –eye due to Dip treatment in
spathaceum the white dots,i.e. little potassium
worms situated antimonyl tartrate
between lens and lens (1.5 mg/litre).
capsule.
6 Cestodes Ligula sp. - - Dull, sickly and with Dip treatment in
parts of alimentary 3:100000 Picric
canal swollen or acid for 1 hour;
completely choked by Di-n-butyl tin
cetode cysts or worms. oxide at the rate
of 250 mg/kg
body weight.

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

7 Nematodes Philometra - - Dull, sickly and with Dip treatment I

sp. Camallanus sp. parts of alimentary 3:100000 Picric
canal swollen or acid for 1 hour;
completely choked by Din-n-butyl tin
round worms. oxide at the rate
of 250 mg/kg
body weight.
8 Acanthocephalan - - Dull and sickly Dip treatment in
Zelanechinor-hynchus sp. 3:100000 Picric
acid for 1 hour;
Dip-n-butyl tin
oxide at the rate
of 250 mg/kg
body weight.
9 Hirudinea Hemiclepsis sp. - - +Abnormal movements Dip treatment in
of the fish due to 1:1000 solution of
irritation, as the glacial acetic acid.
parasites feed on the
blood of host.
10 Copepods Argulus sp. Argulosos Loss of scales and Half an hour
Ergasilus sp. Lemaea sp. presence of red spots; treatment in 500
Caligus sp. Pseudocycnus Lemaeosis damage of gills. ppm formalin
sp. Clavellisa sp. solution;
mechanical
removal by
forceps followed
by a bath in weak
potassium
permanganate
solution for 5
minutes and
subsequent bath
in 1% common
salt solution for 1
hour; pond may
be disinfected by
applying lindane
at the rate of 8
ml/1,000 litres of
water.

STATE Fishes of India

The ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), Luck now, Uttar Pradesh, in 2006
compiled a list of State Fish for 16 States.

# STATE/UT COMMON NAME, SCIENTIFIC NAME, AUTHOR & YEAR

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

1 Andhra Pradesh Striped Murrel: Channa straitus (Bloch, 1793)

2 Arunachal Golden Mahseer: Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822)
Pradesh
3 Bihar Magur: Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758)
4 Haryana Kalbasu/ Calabasu: Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)
5 Himachal Pradesh Golden Mahseer: Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822)
6 Jammu & Kashmir Golden Mahseer: Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822)
7 Karnataka Carnatic Carp: Puntius carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849)
8 Kerala Karimeen/Pearls pot: Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790)
9 Lakshadweep Butterflyfish: Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier, 1829
10 Manipur Pengba:Osteobrama belangeri (Valenciennes, 1844)
11 Mizoram Ngahvang/Burmese Kingfish: Semiplotus modestus Day, 1870
12 Nagaland Chocolate Mahseer: Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (McClelland, 1839)
13 Odisha Mahanadi Mahseer: Tor mahanadicus (David, 1953)
14 Telangana Striped Murrel: Channa straitus (Bloch, 1793)
15 Tripura Pabda: Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794)
16 Uttarakhand Golden Mahseer: Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822)
17 Uttar Pradesh Chital: Chitala chitala (Hamilton, 1822)
18 West Bengal Hilsa: Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822)

SPORT FISHERIES OF INDIA

 Recreational Fishing, also called Sport Fishing, is fishing for pleasure or recreation.
 It is the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry with an annual growth rate of 5% globally.
 Recreational fishing techniques include hand gathering, spear fishing, netting, angling and trapping.
“Angling”, fishing with rod, line and hooks, is one of the most common forms of recreational fishing.
 Fishing in India is possible throughout the year, but the best time for Sport Fishing is from October to
November and mid-February to mid-May when the rivers and the streams are replete with all varieties
of fish.
 Indus and Lidder Rivers, their tributaries and a network of smaller rivers of Kashmir are famous for
Sport Fishing of Trout and is often referred to as an “Angler's Paradise”.
 Dodital Freshwater Lake nestled in the Uttarkashi Himalayas, Ramganga and the Sharda Rivers in the
range of Jim Corbett National Park and rivers and streams of North-Eastern parts of India are known
for Mahseers – “King of Indian Sportfish”.
 The Golden Mahseer or Himalayan Mahseer [Tor putitora, Hamilton, 1822] is a popular game fish and
an angler’s delight.
 It is acclaimed as a world famous, outstanding game and food fish of India. As a sport fish, Golden
Mahseer provides unparalleled recreation to anglers from all over the world, better than salmon. It is
known as the ‘Tiger in Water’, because of the fight it musters to wriggle off the hook; maximum size
recorded is 2.74 m and maximum weight recorded is 50 kg.

Freshwater Game Fishes

Golden Mahseer or Himalayan Mahseer : Tor putitora

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

Deccan Mahseer : Tor khudree

Rainbow Trout : Oncorhynchus mykiss

Snow Trout : Schizothorax richardsonii

Chocolate Mahseer: Neolissochilus hexagonolepis

Tor Mahseer : Tor tor

Brown Trout : Salmo trutta fario

Freshwater Shark: Wallago attu

CLASSIFICATION OF FISHERY RESOURCE

1. Fin Fisheries: Are the fisheries of true fishes.

2. Non-Fin fisheries: Are the fisheries of organisms other than true fish like prawn, crab, lobster, mussel,
oyster, sea cucumbers, frog, sea weeds, etc.

Fin Fishery Resource can further be classified based on the mode of capturing and the methodology
involved into

1. Capture Fishery

2. Culture Fishery

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

1. Capture fisheries:
Capture fisheries is exploitation of aquatic organisms without stocking the seed.
1) Recruitment of the species occurs naturally.
2) This is carried out in the sea, rivers, reservoirs, etc.

Capture Fishery can be classified into

A. Marine Fishery
 It refers to the fishing in the marine waters.

Classification of Marine Fishery:

1. Pelagic fish:
 Pelagic fish live in the pelagic zone of ocean or lake waters - being neither close to the bottom
nor near the shore.
Types of marine pelagic fish:

1. COASTAL FISH (ALSO CALLED NERITIC OR INHABIT THE WATERS NEAR THE COAST AND
INSHORE FISH) ABOVE THE CONTINENTAL SHELF.
2. OCEANIC FISH (ALSO CALLED OPEN OCEAN OR Oceanic fish inhabit the oceanic zone, which is
OFFSHORE FISH) the deep open water which lies beyond the
continental shelve Ex. Ocean sunfish, Lantern
fish, Whale shark

2. Demersal fish:
 This is live and feed on or near the bottom of seas or lake (the demersal zone).
Types
Demersal fish can be divided into two main types:

1. BENTHIC FISH OR GROUND FISH WHICH CAN REST ON THE SEA FLOOR

2. BENTHOPELAGIC FISH Which can float in the water column just above
the sea floor.

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

3. Deep-sea fish:
 Deep-sea fish are fish that live in the darkness below the sunlit surface waters that is below
the epipelagic or photic zone of the ocean.

B. Inland Fishery.
1. Riverine Fisheries
 The Inland water bodies in India have been divided into five riverine systems and their
tributaries extending to a length of about 29,000 km in the country –

A. Himalayan rivers system:

1. Ganga

2. Indus

3. Brahmaputra

B. Peninsular river system:

4. East coast

5. West coast river system

2. Culture fisheries:

 Culture fisheries are the cultivation of selected fishes in confined areas with utmost care to
get maximum yield.
 The seed is stocked, nursed and reared in confined waters, then the crop is harvested.

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

 Culture takes place in ponds, which are fertilized, and supplementary feeds are provided to
fish to get maximum yield.

Types of culture Fisheries

FRESH WATER AQUACULTURE FRESH WATER FARMING EX. CARPS, PRAWN,

MURREL & CATFISH
BRACKISH WATER AQUACULTURE Mixture of Sea water and Fresh water Ex. Sea
bass, Pearl spot, Milkfish, Mud crab, Fin fishes &
Shrimp culture
MARINE CAGE CULTURE Farming in sea water
ORNAMENTAL FISH CULTURE Also called Aquaculture Ex. Striped barb,
Angelfish

Aquaculture

 It is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish and even plants thus it involves the
production of all types of aquatic organisms in water bodies.

Various system of Aquaculture

1. Based on intensity

FARMING SYSTEM STOCKING DENSITY SIZE OF POND YIELD

INTENSIVE FISH Very high 10- Involves small 15-100 ton/ha
FARMING 50Fish/m3 of water ponds/tanks/raceways
SEMI-INTENSIVE FISH High 10000-15000 Small pond (0.5-1 ha 3-10 ton fish/ha
FARMING fish/ha area)
EXTENSIVE FISH <5000 fish/ha Large pond (1-5 ha 500 fish-2 ton fish/ha
FARMING area) Poor Low survival
management

2. Based on Enclosure

POND CULTURE 1. MOST COMMON METHOD

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

2. WATER IS MAINTAINED IN AN ENCLOSED AREA BY ARTIFICIAL

CONSTRUCTION OF DIKE/BUND, WHERE AQUATIC ANIMAL ARE
STOCKED
CAGE CULTURE Rearing of fish from juvenile stage to commercial size in a volume of water
enclosed on all sides including bottom while permitting the free circulation
of water
PEN CULTURE Raising of fish in a volume of water enclosed on all sides except bottom,
allowing the free circulation of water at least from one side
RACEWAY CULTURE Raising of fish in running water

3. Based on Fish species

MONOCULTURE POLYCULTURE
SINGLE SPECIES FARM EX. CATFISH, CARPS, Two or more species farmed Ex. Catla, rohu,
SHRIMP, TROU mrigal, silver carp, grass carp & common carp

4. Based on salinity

FARMING SYSTEM SPECIES SALINITY

FRESH WATER Catla, rohu, mrigal, silver carp, grass Zero
FARMING carp, common carp & Fresh water prawn
BRACKISH WATER Shrimp, crabs, Mollusks and 25 species <30 ppt
FARMING of commercially important fishes
MARINE WATER commercially important fishes and Shell
FARMING fishes

Indian carp culture

INDIAN CARP EXOTIC CARP MINOR CARP CAT FISH SPORT FISH MURREL
CATLA, ROHU Common carp Bata Freshwater Tiapia, Striped Rainbow trout
shark, Cat fish snake

Fish toxicants

Commonly used pesticides are:

A. Mahua oil cake (IBPS AFO- 2020)

B. Tea seed cake
C. Ammonia
D. Bleaching powder

Recommended doses of fish poison

POISON DOSE(KG/HA/M)
BLEACHING POWDER 350-500

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

MOHUA OIL CAKE 2500

ANHYDROUS AMMONIA 20-30
POWDERED SEED OF CROTON TIQLIUM 30-50
ROOT POWDER OF MILLETIA PACHYCARPA 40-50
SEED POWDER OF MILLETIA PIECIDIA 40-50
SEED POWDER OF BARRINGTONIA 150
ACUTANGULA
SEED MEAL OF TAMARIND (TAMARINDUS 1750-2000
INDICA)
TEA SEED CAKE (CAMELLIA SINENSIS) 750

DESIRED SPECIES OF SPAWN OR FRY

Species feeding habit and feeding zone

1. Indian Major Carps:

SPECIES FEEDING HABIT FEEDING ZONE

CATLA Zooplankton feeder Surface Feeder
ROHU Omnivorous Column Feeder
MRIGAL Detritivorous Bottom Feeder

2. Exotic Carps:

SPECIES FEEDING HABIT FEEDING ZONE

SILVER CARP Phytoplankton feeder Surface Feeder

GRASS CARP Herbivorous Surface, Column &marginal

areas

COMMON CARP Detritivorous / Omnivorous Bottom Feeder

ANNUAL PRODUCTION THROUGH INTEGRATED CARP LIVESTOCK FARMING

INTEGRATION Fish production Animal production (live weight)
FISH + PIG FARMING 6-7 ton/ha 4000-5000 kg pig meat
FISH +DUCK FARMING 3-4 ton/ha 500kg duck meat + 17000-20000 eggs
FISH + POULTRY 4-5 ton /ha 60000-70000 eggs+ 1500-2000 kg meat
FARMING

Fish ban period in India

STATE DAYS PERIOD

WEST BENGAL 61 15th April to 14th June
ODISHA 61 15th April to 14th June

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

ANDHRA PRADESH 61 15th April to 14th June

TAMIL NADU - EAST COAST 45 15th April to 29th may
TAMIL NADU- WEST COAST 45 15th June to 29th July
KERALA 47 14th June (midnight) to 31st July
KARNATAKA 61 15th June to 10th august
GOA 61 01st June to 31st July
MAHARASHTRA 61 1 st June to 31st July
GUJARAT 66 10th June to 15th august

POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY IN FISH

 The need for proper handling and processing of fish is important both for the fishing industry and for
the consumers.
 It can also contribute to the efforts related to nutritional goals.

Handling

Consider These 3 Cardinal Rules in Handling Fresh Fish

1. Cleanliness:
2. Care:
o Sort fish properly before packing.
o Drain fish before icing
o Avoid brushing the fish
o Don’t throw, trample or kick the fish
3. Cooling:
 Temperature is the most important single factor affecting the quality of fish.
 Use plenty of ice.
 Fish is cooled more quickly when ice cold water is poured on them. Fish spoils easily when allowed
to stay in stagnant water, blood or slime.
 Store fish in ice as quickly as possible.

Transportation:

 Fresh fish transported to far distances must be packed with ice to ensure freshness when they reach
the consumers.
 It is attained with the ratio of 1 kg of ice to 2 kg of fish.
 The latest practice of transporting live marketable fish.

Processing:

 ontamination can come from people, soil, dust, sewage, surface water, manure, or spoiled foods.
 Poorly cleaned equipment, domestic animals, pets, vermin or unhygienically slaughtered animals can
also be the cause.

Different methods exist to suppress bacterial growth:

Salting:

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

 Fish quality and nutritional value are reasonable after salting.

 Storage life is long.

Drying:

 Dry and / or airtight storage is required.

 Quality and nutritional value are reasonable if storage is good.

Fermentation:

 This method is often inexpensive, but the fish taste and odour are radically changed.
 Storage life varies depending on the product.
 Nutritional value is often high.

Canning:

 Packaging is expensive. Storage is easy and possible for long periods (below 25 °C / 77 °F).
 Quality and nutritional value are good.

Cooling and Freezing:

 Split the fish into butterfly fillets along the backbone with a sharp knife.
 Remove the gills and internal organs or the entrails.
 Wash fish to remove all traces of blood.
 Immerse split fish into a brine solution of 1 part salt to 3 parts water for 30 minutes to 1 hour
depending on the size of fish.
 Drain the fish and dry under the sun for 1 to 2 days.
 Store dried fish in a cool, dry place.

Smoking of Fish

1. Remove the gills and entrails

2. Wash and soak in brine solution (1:3 salts to water) for 30 minutes to one hour depending on the size
of fish.
3. Boil in 10% brine solution (1 part salt to 9 parts water) for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Smoke for 30 minutes at 43-66°C.
5. Pack in plastic bags and refrigerate.

Facts

 It contributes to around 17% of the global population's animal protein intake.

 Around 125-210 million tonnes of fish is projected to be required by 2050 to meet the annual per
capita requirement of 15-20 kg.
 Fish is often referred to as "Rich Food for Poor People"
 Fish is also called "Brain Food" as it helps in development and function of brain, and "Heart Food” as
it contributes to lower risks of heart

FRESH WATER FISH SPECIES

1. Catla: Catla catla

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

1. Catla is the fastest growing Indian major carp species

2. Habitation in pond - Pelagic habitat
3. Feeding habit - Surface feeder [zooplanktons]
4. Maturity - End of its 2nd year.
5. Fecundity - Fecundity is very high; 2 lakh to 4.2 lakh. length upto 45 cm,
6. Breeding: Catla breeds The technique of induced breeding called hypophysation

7. Nutritive Value (Per 100 gm):

 Total Fat - 2.80 g (1.47 to 6.47 %)

 Protein - 16.18 g (13.98 to 18.09 %).
 Iron - 2.29 to 2.45
 Calories - 115.40 kcal

2. Rohu: Labeo rohita

1. Rohu is the natural inhabitant of river systems of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma.
2. Rohu spawns during the monsoon (April-September).
3. Habitation in pond - it occupies middle column layer
4. Feeding habit - column feeder [both phytoplankton and zooplankton.]
5. Maturity - End of its 2nd year.
6. Fecundity - Fecundity is very high 2 to 5 lakhs. length of 35 to 45 cm
7. Breeding: it naturally breeds in rivers and under special conditions in bundhs.
8. Nutritive Value (Per 100 gm):
 Total Fat - 2.73 g
 Protein - 15.98 g (13.01 to 17.68%)
 Calories - 88.49 kcal

3. Mrigal: Cirrhinus mrigals

1. Fresh water; Mrigal is distributed in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan etc.

2. Habitation in pond - it occupy bottom zone
3. Feeding habit - bottom feeder [both phytoplankton and zooplankton.]
4. Maturity - End of its 2nd year.
5. Fecundity - 4 - 12 lakhs (According to ICAR) and 1,24,000 to over 19,00,000 (According to FAO ), length
of 40 cm
6. Breeding: It breeds in the natural waters by the end of the 2nd year following maturity. It also
responds to induced breeding technique in confined water such as ponds.

7. Nutritive Value (Per 100 gm):

o Total Fat - 2.73 g

o Protein - 15.98 g (13.01 to 17.68%)
o Calories - 88.49 kcal

4. Silver Carp: Hypophthalmichthys molitxix

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

1. It is cultured in fresh water. It is a native carp of China, introduced and cultured in countries like India,
Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Srilanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Phillippines, U.S.S.R.(Russia), Burma, Hongkong,
Singapore, Egypt etc.
2. It can also tolerate lower salinity of brackish waters.
3. Habitation in pond - It occupies the surface layer of the pond.
4. Feeding habit - mainly on phytoplankton present in water surface
5. Maturity - End of its 2nd year.
6. Fecundity - 4 - 12 lakhs (According to ICAR) and 1,24,000 to over 19,00,000 (According to FAO ), length
of 40 cm
7. Breeding: It also responds to induced breeding. A fecundity range of 1,45,000 to 20,44,000 has been
found from silver carp.

5. Grass carp: Ctenopharyngodon idella

1. Distribution: It is distributed in India, Japan, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Srilanka, Burma,
Hongkong, Phillippines, Singapore, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Rumania etc.
2. Habitation in pond - Bottom feeder.
3. Feeding habit - It feeds on both soft and hard aquatic weeds. It also accepts terrestrial grass growing
on the bunds. It is omnivore during its early stage. t needs a minimum feed of 25% of its total body
weight daily because of this nature it is beneficial in biologically controlling the aquatic weeds and it
also serves as a "living green manuring machine".
4. Maturity - End of its 2nd year.
5. Fecundity upto 6,18,000 6. Breeding: It also responds to induced breeding.

6. Common carp: Cyprinus carpio

1. It is a native of China and Russia. It is also distributed in Europe, Germany.

2. Habitation in pond - Benthic region of pond
3. Feeding habit - It is omnivorous in food habit, eating zooplankton
4. Maturity - it is about 6 months old and is capable of reproducing in confined water.
5. Fecundity upto 20 lakhs)

BRACKISH WATER FISH SPECIES

1. Seabass: Lates calcarifer

1. The Asian seabass known as "Kaalangi" or "Narimeen" in Kerala is animportant candidate finfish
species for farming.
2. Seabass is a euryhaline fish, growing rapidly up to 3-5 kg within a growing period of 2-3
3. years in both freshwater and brackish water environments.
4. Seabass attains maturity at the age of 3-4 years at a length and weight range of 60 to 70 cm and 2.5
to 4.0 kg respectively.
5. Males are generally small and in the size range of 2.0-3.0 kg and the males convert into females as
they reach a size above 5.0 kg.
6. The fecundity is between 2.1 to 17.0 million depending upon the size of the fish.

Stocking:

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

 Stocking of 1 kg fish biomass/m3 is recommended for a 100 tonne of water, i.e. 10 females each of
average weight 6.0 kg and 16 males each of 2.5 kg.

Water quality management:

1. Water exchange to an extent of 70-80% of the total volume should be done daily.
2. Water temperature: 28-32°C
3. Salinity: 29-32 ppt
4. Alkalinity (CO3): 80-120 ppm
5. Ph: 6.8-8.

Other Brackish Water Fish Species:

1. Pompano
2. Milkfish
3. Cobia

EFFLUENT TREATMENT

The Ministry of Agriculture in its Guidelines for Sustainable Development and Management of Brackish
water Aquaculture has prescribed standards for the waste water discharged from the shrimp farms.
Guidelines/ standards for waste water from coastal aquaculture farms in India:

# PARAMETERS FINAL DISCHARGE POINT

Coastal marine waters Creeks/ estuaries-
when the same inland
water courses are used
as water source and
disposal point
1 PH 6.0-8.5 6.0 - 8.5
2 Suspended Solids mg/l 100 100
3 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l Not less than 3.0 Not less than 3.0
4 Free Ammonia (as NH3 -N ) mg/l 50 0.5
5 Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) (5 50 20
days at 20ºC ) mg/l
6 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) mg/l 100 75
7 Dissolved Phosphate (as P) mg/l 0.4 0.2
8 Total Nitrogen (as N) mg/l 2.0 2.0

Effluent Treatment System for Shrimp Farms

o The Aquaculture Authority has made it mandatory that all shrimp farms of 5.0 hectare water spread
area and above located within the CRZ and 10 hectares water spread area and above located outside
CRZ should have an effluent treatment system (ETS) or effluent treatment ponds/ facility. The highest
quantity and poorest quality of waste water in terms of nutrient load, total ammonia and ionised
ammonia and total suspended solid) are found just before harvest
o Time, when shrimp biomass is at the maximum.

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

o Waste water discharge during harvest (especially the last 5 cms drainage) is usually the most
important contributor to overall waste water loading, comprising over 75% of the total load. As per
norms, 10 per cent of the cultivable area should be assigned for the ETS

BIOFLOC FISH CULTURE

o Biofloc Technology (BFT) is considered as new “blue revolution” since nutrients can be continuously
recycled and reused in the culture medium, benefited by the minimum or zero-water exchange.
o BFT is an environment friendly aquaculture technique based on in-situ microorganism production.
Biofloc is the suspended growth in ponds/tanks which is the aggregates of living and dead particulate
organic matter, phytoplankton, bacteria and grazers of the bacteria.
o It is the utilization of microbial processes within the pond/tank itself to provide food resources for
cultured organism while at the same time acts as a water treatment remedy.
o Thus, this system is also called as active suspension ponds or heterotrophic ponds or even green soup
ponds

Advantage of BFT

o Eco-friendly culture system.

o It reduces environmental impact.
o Judicial use of land and water
o Limited or zero water exchange system
o Higher productivity (It enhances survival rate, growth performance, better feed conversion in the
culture systems of fish).
o Higher biosecurity.
o Reduces water pollution and mitigate the risk of introduction and spread of pathogens ã it reduces
utilization of protein rich feed and cost of standard feed.
o It reduces the pressure on capture fisheries i.e., use of cheaper food fish and trash fish for fish feed
formulation

Species suitable for Biofloc

o Biofloc system is most suitable for species that can tolerate high solids concentration in water and
are generally tolerant of poor water quality. Some of the species that are suitable for BFT are:
1. Air breathing fish like Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis), Magur (Clarias batrachus), Pabda (Ompok
pabda), Anabas/Koi (Anabas testudineus), Pangasius (Pangasianodan hypophthalmus)
2. Non air-breathing fishes like Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Rohu (Labeo rohita), Tilapia
(Oreochromis niloticus), Milkfish (Chanos chanos)
3. Shellfishes like Vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

Composition and Nutritional Value of Biofloc

o A good nutritional value is found in Biofloc.

o The dry weight protein ranges from 25 – 50%, fat ranges 0.5 – 15%.
o It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, particularly phosphorous.
o It has an effect similar to probiotics.
o The dried biofloc is proposed as an ingredient to replace the fishmeal or soybean in the feed

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

1. FRESHWATER FISHERIES

1. Carps

FISH NAME
INDIAN MAJOR CARPS
CATLA: CATLA CATLA
ROHU: LABEO ROHITA
MRIGAL: CIRRHINUS MRIGALA
MINOR CARPS
REBA: CIRRHINUS REBA
BATA: LABEO BATA
FRINGE-LIPPED CARP: LABEO FIMBRIATUS
CALBASU: LABEO CALBASU
PENGBA: OSTEOBRAMA BELANGERI
EXOTIC CARPS
COMMON CARP: CYPRINUS CARPIO
AMUR COMMON CARP: CYPRINUS CARPIO
GRASS CARP: CTENOPHARYNGODON IDELLA
SILVER CARP: HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS MOLITRIX

2. Catfish

FISH NAME
MAGUR/ WALKING CATFISH: CLARIAS MAGUR [FORMERLY KNOWN AS C. BATRACHUS]
SINGHI/ STINGING CATFISH: HETEROPNEUSTES FOSSILIS
GIANT RIVER-CATFISH, SPERATA SEENGHALA
[FORMERLY MYSTUS SEENGHALA / AORICHTHYS SEENGHALA]
FRESHWATER SHARK: WALLAGO ATTU
PABDA CATFISH: OMPOK PABDA
SUTCHI/ STRIPED CATFISH (EXOTIC) PANGASIANODON HYPOPHTHALMUS

3. Feather backs

FISH NAME

CHITAL: CHITALA CHITALA

BRONZE FEATHERBACK: NOTOPTERUS NOTOPTERUS

4. Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIFS)

FISH NAME
MOLA CARPLET: MBLYPHARYNGODON MOLA
CLIMBING PERCH: ANABAS TESTUDINEUS
TICTO BARB: PUNTIUS TICTO
POOL BARB: PUNTIUS SOPHORE

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

SILVER HATCHET CHELA: CHELA CACHIUS

5. Snakeheads

FISH NAME
STRIPED MURREL / SNAKEHEAD: CHANNA STRIATA
SPOTTED MURREL /SNAKEHEAD: CHANNA PUNCTATA
FLOWER MURREL / BULLSEYE SNAKEHEAD: CHANNA MARULIUS
DWARF MURREL /SNAKEHEAD: CHANNA GACHUA

6. Tilapias

FISH NAME
NILE TILAPIA: OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS
GIFT STRAIN: OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS
RED TILAPIA: OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS
MOZAMBIQUE TILAPIA: OREOCHROMIS MOZAMBICUS

7. Coldwater Fishes

FISH NAME
MAHASHEER
GOLDEN MAHSEER: TOR PUTITORA
TOR MAHSEER: TOR TOR
DECCAN MAHSEER: TOR KHUDREE
CHOCOLATE MAHSEER: NEOLISSOCHEILUS HEXAGONOLEPIS
TROUT
COMMON SNOW TROUT: SCHIZOTHORAX RICHARDSONII
RAINBOW TROUT: ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS
BROWN TROUT: SALMO TRUTTA
BROOK TROUT: SALVELINUS FONTINALIS
OTHERS
MOUNTAIN TROUT: BARILIUS VAGRA
GHEUR: BARILIUS BENDELISIS

2. BRACKISH WATER FISHERIES

1. Mullets

FISH NAME
GREY MULLET: MUGIL CEPHALUS
GOLDSPOT MULLET: MUGIL PARSIA

2. Milkfish

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

The Milkfish, Chanos chanos, is the sole living representative of the family Chanidae and is widely
distributed in the whole of tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans.

3. Bass

FISH NAME
ASIAN SEABASS: LATES CALCARIFER
TIGER BASS: TERAPON JARBUA

4. Pearl spot
The Green Chromide Pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis, is the state fish of Kerala and locally (in
Malayalam) it is called “Karimeen”.

5. Grouper
FISH NAME
GREASY GROUPER: EPINEPHELUS TAUVINA
ORANGE-SPOTTED GROUPER: EPINEPHELUS COIOIDES
BROWN-LINED REEF COD: EPINEPHELUS UNDULOSUS

6. Scat
 Spotted Scat, Scatophagus argus, is a euryhaline subtropical fish widely distributed in Indian-
Pacific waters.
 It is an important aquaculture food fish with high economic value and is also a popular aquarium
species due to its colourful appearance, hardiness, slow growth, and calm behavior.
7. Catfish
FISH NAME
LONG WHISKERS CATFISH MYSTUS GULIO
STRIPED DWARF CATFISH MYSTUS VITTATUS

3. MARINE FISHERIES
LENGTH OF COASTLINE (KM) 8,118
EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ) (SQ. KM) 2,020,000
CONTINENTAL SHELF (SQ. KM) 530,000
TERRITORIAL SEA (UP TO 12 NAUTICAL MILES) 193,834
SQ.KM
NUMBER OF FISH LANDING CENTRES 1,537
NUMBER OF FISHING VILLAGES 3,432
NUMBER OF FISHERMEN FAMILIES 874,749
FISHER-FOLK POPULATION 4,056,213

The important Marine Fisheries can be grouped into the following categories: 1. Surface-water Fish
(Pelagic): Sardines, Anchovies, Ribbonfish, Mackerel, Seerfish, Tuna, etc. 2. Mid-water Fish (Pelagic):

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

Bombay Duck, Cobia, Silver Bellies, Horse Mackerel, etc. 3. Bottom-water Fish (Demersal): Perches,
Catfish, Pomfrets, Flatfish, Eels, etc.

1. Surface-water Fish (Pelagic):

FISH NAME
SARDINES
INDIAN OIL SARDINE: SARDINELLA LONGICEPS
GOLDSTRIPE SARDINE: SARDINELLA GIBBOSA
FRINGESCALE SARDINE: SARDINELLA FIMBRIATA
ANCHOVIES
INDIAN ANCHOVY: STOLEPHORUS INDICUS
GOLDSPOTTED GRENADIER ANCHOVY: COILIA DUSSUMIERI
FRINGESCALE SARDINE: SARDINELLA FIMBRIATA
ANCHOVIES
INDIAN ANCHOVY: STOLEPHORUS INDICUS
GOLDSPOTTED GRENADIER ANCHOVY: COILIA DUSSUMIERI
MALBAR ANCHOVY: THRYSSA MALABARICA
MACKERELS
INDIAN MACKEREL: RASTRELLIGER KANAGURTA
INDIAN CHUB MACKEREL: SCOMBER INDICUS
TUNAS
LITTLE TUNNY: EUTHYNNUS AFFINIS
FRIGATE TUNA: AUXIS THAZARD
ORIENTAL BONITO: SARDA ORIENTALIS
YELLOWFIN TUNA: THUNNUS ALBACARES
BIGEYE TUNA: THUNNUS OBESUS
SKIPJACK TUNA: KATSUWONUS PELAMIS

Shellfish Fisheries

Types of Shellfish

1. Crustaceans: Prawns, Shrimps, Crabs, Lobsters, Crayfishes, etc.

2. Molluscs: Gastropods (snails), Pelecypods or Bivalves (clams, mussels, oysters) and Cephalopods
(squids, cuttlefish, octopus).

a. Freshwater Prawns:

NAME
GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN (SCAMPI): MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII
INDIAN RIVER PRAWN: MACROBRACHIUM MALCOLMSONII

b. Marine Shrimp:

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FISHERIES NOTES January 26, 2023

NAME
TIGER PRAWN/ BLACK TIGER SHRIMP: PENAEUS MONODON
INDIAN WHITE PRAWN/SHRIMP: PENAEUS INDICUS
PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP: LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI

Cuttlefish:

NAME
NEEDLE CUTTLEFISH: SEPIA ACULEATA
PHARAOH CUTTLEFISH: SEPIA PHARAONIS

By,

Prashant Srivastava

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