CIFRI Awards
’ Indian Sundarbans are rich in canal systems, and natural forms of these resources were excavated for freshwater resources. Large number of canals in Indian Sundarbans is tide fed through the connecting channels. These canals are the source of livelihood and household nutrition for the local populace. Yet, these resources are underutilized in terms of sustainable fish production. Hence, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute has taken initiative for the canal fisheries development by a degree of management and technological interventions in different canals of Sundarbans. The ecological status of the selected canals (Bhetkimari, Bishalakhi, Bharua) has been studied to assess the fish production potential and productivity. Keeping view of the scientific utilization of these resources in fisheries perspectives, ICAR-CIFRI initiated the ‘net partition systems’ for carp polyculture’ in selected canals (Bishalakhi and Bharua canal), where the stocked Indian Major Carps were resulting good growth. It was practiced with a participatory mode with the local fish farmers living around the canal, where a group were formed for their support to carry out the culture activities during the experiment. It was reported that after six months of culture period, catla, rohu and mrigal attained the maximum size of 1.2 kg, 1.0 kg and 0.8 kg, respectively. A good quantity of small indigenous fishes such as Puntius sophore, Puntius ticto, Amblypharngyodon mola, Salmostomo bacaila and prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergi were also harvested. Freshwater prawns were eye catching. The total harvest was 250 kg of fish including 10% share of indigenous fishes available in the canal. The results encourage the local community towards utilization of these underutilized resources through fish culture activities. The perception-based study was conducted with the objective to identify the people’s attitude and perceptions regarding canal fisheries development in that area. It was revelaed that the perception towards canal fisheries development differed between the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. More than 50% of the sampled beneficiaries (86%) and non-beneficiaries (56%) perceived that the initiative of canal fisheries development would enhance production and that it would help in income improvement, although they opined that it could create conflict between fisheries and aquaculture. The NACA, Bangkok has published of ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore initiatives in their websites (https://enaca.org/?id=1196) under the tags of ‘Freshwater finfish, India, Inland aquaculture, Livelihoods and social issues’, and also article published in Aquaculture Asia Magazine, Issue January – March, 2022..
