A cage culture unit has been inaugurated at Kuhtoli Beel of Gorukhuti Project in Darrang district under the World Bank-funded APART project in order to enhance fish seed production in the state. The chairman of the project, Padma Hazarika, marked the launch by releasing seeds into the water body, emphasizing the importance of the State Fishery department’s innovative approach to meet the rising demand for high-yielding fish seeds at an affordable price.
During the inauguration, Chairman Hazarika commended the State Fishery department’s efforts and the scientific approach employed in establishing the fish seedlings growing unit. The cage culture unit, part of the APART project, aims to address the challenges of fish seed availability and quality in the region. Deputy Commissioner Munindra Nath Ngatey, CEO of Gorukhuti Project Uddipta Gautam, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
The cage culture unit is designed to produce 70,000-80,000 advanced fingerlings every three months, catering to the needs of local farmers. Bipul Khataniar, the District Fishery Development Officer (DFDO), highlighted the significance of scientific rearing practices in ensuring the quality of fish seed. However, geographical constraints and a lack of nursery ponds have hindered fish culture in the Gorukhuti project area.
To overcome these challenges, the cage culture unit utilizes natural water resources to rear high-yielding fish seed. This approach enables the exploitation of underused water resources and contributes to the production of quality fish seed for local farmers. A training session for local fish growers was conducted prior to the inauguration, with Dr. Sanjay Sarma, the fishery coordinator of ARIAS society, providing valuable insights into genetic awareness and the introduction of high-yielding fish varieties.
Cage culture, a dynamic aquaculture production system, involves holding fish in floating nets enclosed in cages. This method allows water exchange and waste removal into the surrounding water, making it adaptable to various bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers with proper water quality, access, and legal authorization. The newly launched cage culture unit represents a promising initiative to boost fish seed production and contribute to the sustainable development of aquaculture in the region.
Source: Sentinel Assam
