23rd September, 2019, Muhamma, Alappuzha
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore successfully organized the harvesting of Etroplus suratensis (Pearl spot) in climate resilient CIFRI HDPE pens at Muhamma, Alappuzha today.
Two experimental pens of 100 sq.m in size was stocked with Pearl spot and Black clam (Villorita cyprinoides) in a multi-trophic system with Pearl spot occupying the water column and black clam, the bottom surface.
The pearl spot seeds purchased from Azhikode Government Hatchery and the clam seeds collected from Thycattussery region was stocked in these pens and cultured for four months. Each pen was stocked with 1500 fish seeds of 4 cm size and baby clams of 1.7cm total length and 3.2g total weight. The fishes were reared with regular feed supplies and managed with appropriate pen management measures such as cleaning of net meshes regularly. Overall the pens were stocked with 6kg of Pearl spot and 500kg of black clam.
The fishes attained a growth rate of 89.95% per month during the culture period, whereas the black clam recorded a growth rate of 98.33% per month indicating the success of a multi-trophic pen system in open waters. A total of 160 Kg of fishes were harvested and sold at an average price of Rs. 300/kg. The black clam was not harvested as it required another four months to obtain harvestable size of 40g total weight and during which another culture of E. suratensis may be carried out in these pens.
The study indicated that pen culture of pearl spot and black clam could withstand the adverse impact of devastating flood during August-September 2019. The demonstration showed that multi-trophic pen culture of Black clam and E. suratensis indicated a better growth of both the species in comparison to monoculture of both the species overcoming two episodes of flood in the region.
These climate resilient technologies and adaptation strategies will not only help to cope up with adverse impact of climatic variability but also helps increasing the production for sustainable livelihood and nutritional security to rural populace.
This work was carried out bya team led by Dr. B. K. Das, Director,ICAR-CIFRI and Dr. U.K. Sarkar, Principal Investigator (NICRA).
The meeting was presided over by Kochuthresia James, Block Ward Member who inaugurated the fish sales from Muhamma pens. The programme was attended by fifty fisherwomen and members of Vembanad Kayal Samarakshana Samithi.
(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)
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