Aquaculture Asia Magazine, January-March 2017

Improvements to fish yield in small water bodies as well as to the incomes and nutritional status of rural communities have been demonstrated. in Laos, Sri Lanka and Vietnam but culture-based fisheries practices are not yet widespread, despite having significant potential in tropical climates. A project to introduce culture-based fisheries to Cambodia is described. Participating communities reported improved catch per unit effort, an increase in the number of people engaged in fishing and lower food costs.

The regular shell colour of farmed Litopenaeus vannamei is off-white to greenish-white but instances of L. vannamei with brown-shell colour do occur in farmed shrimp. A study was conducted to determine if there were differences vis-à-vis shell colour, meat colour, meat composition and meat texture. White-shelled vannamei was determined to be better in terms of meat composition and texture profile but brown-shelled vannamei yielded a more brightly red-coloured cooked product.

Bangana dero is one of the most popular indigenous minor carps in the north eastern states of India, fetching triple the market prices of Indian major carps. B. dero is a bottom feeder and feeds on insect larvae, molluscs, algae, zooplankton and detritus. Over the last two decades the occurrence of wild juveniles of this fish in Indian rivers has fallen drastically. A protocol for induced breeding, larviculture, nursery rearing and growout including polyculture of B. dero is described.

Feed is the most expensive component of an aquaculture enterprise. Successful cultured fish production requires optimisation of feeding practices to ensure the most economically effective growth rates. Reducing feed costs for culture practices can be achieved by taking the advantage of restricted feeding strategies. Under a restricted feeding regime fish convert a greater portion of feed to body weight. Case studies of restricted feeding are presented for several species and the costs savings and other benefits are briefly discussed.

Community fishing is a unique feature in the state of Assam, India. The present case study narrates a community fishing event in the floodplain wetlands (beels) of Kamrup District in Assam, India, witnessing participation of different tribal communities in fishing and the modus operandi of diverse types of fishing gears with catch details. The design details of the gear were documented. The communal fishing practices of local communities are described along with the respective roles of men and women.

In Nepal, low quality and seasonal access to fish seed is an important restriction on the development of the aquaculture sector. Commercialisation of fish farming cannot progress rapidly in the absence of critical inputs and a regular supply of quality fish seed is an integral requirement for the transition of fish farming from a subsistence activity to a commercial enterprise. Participatory market chain approaches are a key tool for the social and economic improvement of farmers and market participants.