Freshwater aquaculture

Unit 2 - Freshwater Aquaculture resources

2.3. Status of freshwater Aquaculture in India
Freshwater aquaculture has expanded rapidly in India, particularly in the States of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. As stated earlier carps are the dominant group of fish cultured in India as is the case in some other parts of Asia, particularly China. The following statistics illustrate the point.

• Freshwater aquaculture, accounts for 70% of the total Inland production
• Aquaculture is growing at a rate of 5.6% per annum.
• Carps contribute to 90% of the freshwater aquaculture production
• Due to constant R and D and extension aquaculture productivity in India has been enhanced from a more 500 kg/ha/yr to 2000 kg/ha/yr.
• However, the potential is yet to be reached.

The potential for increasing fish production by adopting scientific farming methods are given in the following table.

Sl. No.	System	Potential (tons/ha/yr)
1	Composite fish culture	4-6
2	Intensive culture	10-15
3	Clarias culture	3-5
4	Sewage fed fish culture	3-5
5	Integrated fish cutlrue	3-5
6	Pen culture	1-2
7	Running Water culture	20-50 kg/m3
8	Cages	10-15 Kg/m3

By bringing more area into culture and by increasing productivity of the systems, India can substantially increase its fish production through freshwater aquaculture.