Port Blair, June 18: A series of four training programmes on “Freshwater carp breeding and setting up of satellite nurseries” was conducted by CARI in collaboration with Department of Fisheries, Andaman & Nicobar Administration during 11-17 June 2012 at different locations viz., Diglipur, Nimbudera, Nimbutala and at Chouldari of North & Middle and South Andaman Districts.
Shortage in supply of fish seeds has been an issue in the islands which is predominantly due to lack of nurseries for raising them. CARI took the initiative along with DoF, A&N Administration and organized skill training in the farmers’ ponds involving them in every stage of carp breeding and fish nursery preparation. As the individual farmers in Andaman do not have sufficient nursery ponds to rear the fish spawns up to fry stage, they were sensitized on the utility and feasibility of undertaking carp breeding and nursery management by forming satellite nurseries in different places. The seeds of catla, rohu, mrigal and silver carp produced through hormonal induction were stocked in farmer’s ponds prepared by the participants.
As a follow up, the scientists of CARI and officials of Department of Fisheries have chalked out a programme to monitor the nurseries in the farmers’ ponds in the respective areas till production of fry stage (3-5 cm) of fish in participatory mode. The pradhans of the respective areas, who participated in the programme actively, expressed their happiness on the conduct of such programme which has given an avenue to the enterprising youth to take up fish nurseries as a livelihood option and form mutually beneficial clusters to address the issue of fish seed shortage in the islands.
