26 MARCH 2017 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG evaluated as an opportunity to use existing reservoirs and meet the increasing demand for animal protein in the country (Fig. 5). The oligotrophic, medium and large reservoirs in India offer substantial scope for implementation of technology for intensive cage farming to realize water productivity, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. The CIFRI has facilitated implementation of cage culture through introduction of nonnative species and has achieved a production level of 50 kg/ m3 in cages stocked at 60/m3. Although there is enormous potential for fish production in cages, a modest beginning of 10,000 cages in Indian reservoirs could produce 45,000 t of fish. The concept of carrying capacity must be considered to maintain ecological balance and integrity. Ensuring quality fish seed, eco-friendly and low-cost balanced feed, and disease management are the key approaches for expansion of cage and pen farming in reservoirs and wetlands. has dispelled the notion that this approach is suitable only for small reservoirs. Stock Management in Large Reservoirs For medium and large reservoirs the management strategy should be capture of selfsustaining stocks. This includes heavy initial stocking, followed by conservation of habitat to allow natural breeding and recruitment, regulated fishing and supportive/corrective stocking as needed. It also requires stock manipulation through adjustment in fishing effort, observance of conservation measures and gear selectivity. Fisheries management protocols developed by CIFRI based on fish stock manipulation have increased the productivity of some large and medium reservoirs (Nagarjunasagar, Sriramsagar, Ravishankarsagar, Ujjaini, Govindsagar, Gandhi Sagar, K.R. Sagar, Hemavathi and Chandil). Guidelines for optimum fisheries exploitation recommended by the Institute for Sustainable Fish Production are now being practiced in numerous reservoirs across the country. Technologies, region- or site-specific protocols and guidelines developed for reservoir fisheries management, coupled with outreach programs, have enhanced average fish production in some reservoirs to 110 kg/ha per yr from 30 kg/ha per yr. Bottlenecks that have been identified as constraining potential reservoir fisheries include: • Ownership of reservoirs lies with non-fisheries departments, • Insufficient availability of quality seed of desired size for stocking in reservoirs, • Inadequate fish seed-raising facilities, • Insufficient funding/credit, • Disorganized input-output sectors, • Absence of efficient governance, institutional arrangements and policy support, and • Difficulty in fishing. In the case of wetlands the lacunae are: • Multiple ownership, • Aquatic weed infestation, • Siltation/closure of linking channels, • Insufficient funding/credit, • Disorganized input-output sectors, and • Absence of efficient governance, institutional arrangements and policy support. Strong policies, legislation and budgetary provisions are necessary to fully realize the potential of inland fish production. Enclosure Culture Cage culture. Cage culture in inland open waters is being FIGURE 3. Improvement in fish yield through stocking enhancement in reservoirs Source: CIFRI Archive. FIGURE 4. Improvement in fish yield through stocking enhancement in wetlands.Source: CIFRI Archive. Success Story: Cage Culture in Jharkhand. Jharkhand is the premier state of India to have successfully introduced cage culture in reservoirs. After a humble beginning through demonstration of cage culture by CIFRI in Hatia reservoir, Ranchi, the state undertook cage culture in a big way in Chandil and Tenughat reservoirs under the National Mission for Protein Supplements scheme of Government of India. Galvanized iron cages of average dimension 6 m × 4 m × 4 m (~96 m3) in a battery of four cages were used for the culture of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The cost of construction of one battery of four cages was 300,000 rupees (about US$ 4,500) and cost of inputs per cage was 200,000 rupees (about US$ 3,000). Fish were fed with floating pelleted feed. Production was as high as 5 to 7 t/cage in a grow-out period of 8-10 months. During 2013-14, more than 200 t of catfish was harvested from 48 cages. The project was implemented in PPP mode, providing livelihoods for people displaced by dam construction and inundation. Cage fish farming in reservoirs provided livelihood opportunities for the local landless people and improved the socioeconomic status of the target group. The success of cage farming in Jharkhand has demonstrated the potential of cage culture technology in the country. Tapping the huge potential of the vast inland open waters can uplift local communities.
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