Indigenous Fish

Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish Species

India has 8,118 kilometers of marine coastline, 3,827 fishing villages, and 1,914 traditional fish landing centers. India's fresh water resources consist of 195,210 kilometers of rivers and canals, 2.9 million hectares of minor and major reservoirs, 2.4 million hectares of ponds and lakes, and about 0.8 million hectares of flood plain wetlands and water bodies

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Fish are often an important ingredient in the diet of people who live in the proximity of water bodies. People have traditionally depended on various varieties of indigenous fish species, easily available from nearby water bodies, as a source of nutrition. Daniels (2002) indicates that of 750 species of freshwater fish species found in India, a large number of them are familiar only to the local population.These species are better known to the rural population due to the importance they attach to these species as a vital and affordable source of nutrition. This is not only the case in India but also in other countries in Asia such as Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam and China (Halwart & Bartley 2005).

Small indigenous fish species of freshwater origin are not only a source of vital protein to the rural poor but also of micro-nutrients such as calcium, zinc, iron and fatty acids (Roos et al, 2007; Halwart, 2008). Indigenous knowledge about these species and about their health benefits is high among rural population. For example, such speciesare often considered an essential part of the diet of pregnant women and lactating mothers. Research has proved that the bioavailability of calcium from these small indigenous freshwater fish species is at par with that derived from milk (Roos et al., 2007).

In conclusion ...

Significant production of small indigenous fish species of freshwater origin, from culture and capture fisheries, is reported from several water bodies. That these species tend to be sold and consumed locally could be one of the reasons why they remain invisible in national statistics—such statisticsare largely based on catches reported at large/major landing centres (Halwart,2008; Roos, 2007). This invisibility in statistics could account for their poorrecognition in fisheries and aquaculture development policies.

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Karemeen

Etroplus suratensis Primarily found in brackish water but known to tolerate fresh or marine waters for short periods . Found in large rivers, reservoirs, lagoons and estuaries. Feed on filamentous algae, plant material and insects.

Life cycleAfter spawning, about 500 eggs are laid and attached to a submerged log, rock or sometimes roots and weeds, in still or slow flowing water. Parents guard and fan the eggs until hatching, usually about 4 days. The fry shoal around their parents during the first weeks of growth. Parents refrain from feeding from the time of spawning until the fry become independent.

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Channa striata

Adults inhabit ponds, streams and rivers, preferring stagnant and muddy water of plains . Found mainly in swamps, but also occurs in the lowland rivers. More common in relatively deep (1-2 m), still water. Very common in freshwater plains

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INDIGENOUS INDIaNFISH'S

Catla catla

Catla is endemic to the riverine system in northern India, Indus plain and adjoining hills of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, and has been introduced later into almost all riverine systems, reservoirs and tanks all over India. Adults occur in rivers, lakes and culture ponds. Mature individuals breed in rivers. Surface and mid-water feeders, mainly omnivorous with juveniles feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects, detritus and phytoplankton.

Labeo rohita

The Rohu (Labeo rohita) is a freshwater fish of the carp family Cyprinidae that is also commonly called the Ruee, Rui or Tapra. Adults inhabit rivers. Are diurnal species and usually solitary. They burrow occasionally. Feed on plants. Spawning season generally coincides with the southwest monsoon. Spawning occurs in flooded rivers. Fecundity varies from 226,000 to 2,794,000 depending upon the length and weight of the fish and weight of the ovary. Widely introduced outside its native range for stocking reservoirs and aquaculture. Utilized fresh.

Cirrhinus mrigala

This is mainly found in fresh water or Northern India, Punjab, West Bengal and Orissa. This carp very much with Labeo rohita except that it has wider mouth and thinner lips. Body is dark grey on the dorsal side while orange colored on the ventral side.

puntius melanostigma

Puntius mahecola has been constantly confused with P. melanostigma, P. filamentosus and P. amphibius. Its distribution range is not properly delineated making the taxon assessment currently imprecise, hence it is assigned to Data Deficient.