1.4.1. Egg, Fry and fingerling collection

Unit 1 - Fish seed resources and natural breeding of finfishes

2.1. Egg collection
  • Large scale egg collection is possible only where locations of the breeding grounds are known and are easily accessible.
  • Eggs are collected from one or two feet deep water by disturbing the bottom and scooping them with a ‘gamcha’, a rectangular spawn collecting net.
  • Generally, large scale egg collection is not practiced in rivers.

Fry and fingerling collection

  • The collection of fry (8-40 mm) and fingerlings (40-150 mm) is usually made by cast and drag nets.
  • Fry and fingerling collection a source of fish seed is prevalent in the Indus river system in Punjab State.

Fry (14-25mm)

The carp fry can be distinguished from that of catfishes and murrels by the number of dorsal fin rays.

a) Major carps: number of undivided dorsal fin rays >11.

b) Minor carps: number of undivided dorsal fin rays 11 or <11.

c) Catfishes and murrels : Pigmented (either blackish, brownish or orange).

Collection of riverine fish seed using a gamcha

Collection of riverine fish seed using a gamcha, a rectangular mosquito netting cloth

A haul of fish fingerlings from a riverine stretch

A haul of fish fingerlings from a riverine stretch (Photo courtesy : Dr Utpal Bhowmick)

Fish seed being collected along the bank of a river

Fish seed being collected along the bank of a river (Photo courtesy : Dr Utpal Bhowmick)

Last modified: Monday, 13 June 2011, 11:18 AM