Inland Fisheries

6.2.7.3 Fish yield potential

Most of the fish catch is consumed as food by the local people. Beels are very rich in nutrients and have a great production potential Based on eco-energy studies, Jhingran and Pathak (1987) estimated the production potential of beels at 1,80,00,000 Kcal of energy/ha/year or 1,500 kg/ ha/year. A recent study indicated very high fish yield potential in the range of 476-2324 kg/ha. The beels of Assam are one of the prime natural sources of natural capture fishery dominated by small fish species including many species of ornamental importance. The yield rate ranges from 14 to 488 kg/ha/yr. The productivity of oxbow lakes can be increased to 2,000- 4,000 kg/ha/year by introducing extensive or semi-intensive aquaculture. In other wetlands, productivity can be increased significantly by strictly implementing the existing fisheries regulations.