WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2014 43 As the middle class has grown in India, fish keeping has become a popular hobby and aquarists are always searching for more attractive and brightly colored fish. Presently the number of marine ornamentals in India that are commercially cultured is limited to a few fish species, mainly clownfish (Wabnitz et al. 2003). Clownfishes are most preferred because of their attractive color, gracefulness and symbiosis with anemone as they swim in aquarium tanks. The ornamental fish trade in India mostly depends on wild-caught fish, including clownfish, damsels, angels, butterfly, surgeons and gobies. The destructive techniques used to catch fishes pollute water by the use of cyanide and explosives and lead to the destruction of corals. This has led to reduction in the density and diversity of fish species. In some cases, the demand for marine ornamentals can be met with production in hatcheries, rather than collected from nature, thereby preventing destruction of coral reefs and promoting conservation. The Lakshadweep Islands The Lakshadweep Islands have vast resources of ornamental fishes, good water quality and is an ideal place for establishing marine ornamental fish hatcheries. The marine ecosystem of the Lakshadweep archipelago is unique and has a high biodiversity, with a large number of endemic flora and fauna (Gopi et al. 2012). Some species are specific to this archipelago and only a few numbers of clownfishes are reported to occur in these islands. The Lakshadweep Islands are included under Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) supporting virgin reefs, which were declared marine national parks to protect and develop marine biodiversity for maintenance and conservation of nature (Environment Protection Act 1986, Wildlife Protection Act 1972). Coral reefs are perhaps the most vulnerable ecosystems, susceptible to rising temperatures, sea levels, soil erosion and excess nutrients from sewage and fertilizers. During the past few decades, there has been a rapid development in the islands, resulting in the degradation of coral reefs, leading to a noticeable decline in the biodiversity of fish and invertebrates. The Lakshadweep economy is highly dependent on the goods and services provided by the coral reef ecosystem. There has been little or no management action taken to conserve these resources. A clear policy that includes conservation efforts and natural resource management with local participation is needed to ensure a Sustainable Hatchery Production of Clownfishes in Lakshadweep Islands, India M. Gopi, Sibi. T. Baby, Sherine Sonia Cubelio sustainable economic future for Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep waters produce a wide variety of brightly colored fishes, thereby increasing income from small- or largescale fish hatcheries in island communities. Taking this into consideration, the production and commercialization of ornamental fish species in captive conditions was initiated by CMLRE at Agatti Island of Lakshadweep. Hatchery-produced fish were more stable and hardy for an extended journey. The present study focused on the sustainable production of marine ornamental fishes at Lakshadweep Island through technology transfer and its commercialization. Clownfish Rearing Protocol Broodstock Maintenance. The clownfishes Amphiprion nigripes and A. clarkii (total length 6.5 ± 0.5 cm) and sea anemone Heteractics magnifica were collected by divers at 1 to 5 m depth at different locations of Agatti Lagoon (10º 51’N, 72º 11’E). Other indigenous species (A. percula, A. ocellaris and Premnas biaculeatus) were collected from the Gulf of Mannar. Fish were packed alive in polyethylene bags (12 in × 8 in) with oxygen and transferred to a hatchery at Agatti Island. Subsequently fish and anemones were quarantined in a 3000-L tank for one month. Healthy fish and sea anemones were transferred to a conditioning tank before pair formation. During the 3-mo conditioning period, dominant fish were assumed to be female and submissive fish assumed to be male. Paired fishes were transferred to 1000-L broodstock tanks. Filtered lagoon seawater was used for broodstock tanks. Temperature (26 ± 2 C), salinity (32-35 ppt), pH (8.0-8.3) and dissolved oxygen (5.0-6.5 mg/L) were measured using a Water Analyser 371.1 Photoperiod was maintained at 13 hr light: 11 hr dark by 36-W fluorescent bulbs. Clay tiles and live rocks were provided as egg laying substrata. Fish were fed three times daily with formulated feed at 4 percent of the total body weight; sea anemones were fed with fresh fish. Excreta and excess feed were removed 30 min after every feeding. Tanks were wiped with sponges and approximately 50 percent of water was replaced with filtered water every week. Spawning and Behavioral Observations. All species of clownfish expressed behavioral changes within the pair, first expressed by males, and courtship behavior was same in all clownfish species. Morphological changes in females during this period included the (CONTINUED ON PAGE 44) As the middle class has grown in India, fish keeping has become a popular hobby and aquarists are always searching for more attractive and brightly colored fish. Presently the number of marine ornamentals in India that are commercially cultured is limited to a few fish species, mainly clownfish. Clownfishes are most preferred because of their attractive color, gracefulness and symbiosis with anemone as they swim in aquarium tanks.
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