Assam on the verge of being self-sufficient in fish production; has the potential to export ornamental fish

Read the full article to know about the potential to export ornamental fish in Assam.

In the financial year 2021-22, the state of Assam had 3.93 lakh metric tons of locally produced fish against the required 4 lakh MT. This has left the state with a shortage of just 0.07 lakh MT. The overall production increased to 4.05 lakh MT against the 3.93 lakh Mt produced in the FY 2020-21, an increase of 3.5 percent.

Unlike yesteryear, when the state saw huge import in fish, especially from Andhra Pradesh, in the FY 2021-22 only 0.23 lakh MT of fish was imported from other states, while the state also exported 0.27 lakh MT.

Reports of the Directorate of Fisheries show that the state is self-sufficient in fish seed production. An average of 10,000 million fish seeds (fry stage) were produced in the last fiscal year from 431 functioning hatcheries in the state. "Initiative has been taken for commissioning 26 fish seed hatcheries and the construction of 200 ha of fish seed rearing tank is under different stages of completion," said Joy Prakash Medhi, Joint Director of Fisheries to Business Northeast.

"The total fish seed (fry size 15-20mm) production in 2021-22 was more than 18,219 million in comparison to the 9886 million produced in 2020-21. However, quality fish seed with appropriate size, type, and timely production is still a problem," he added.

Assam has over 2 lakh ha area of water resources for fish farming:

The state has a total area of 257871.88 ha area of water resources available for fish farming. Of this beel fisheries amounts to 71843 ha, 92386.22 ha of ponds and tanks, 83555.26 ha of derelict water bodies/swamp, 3096 ha of reservoir fisheries, 6990 of forest fisheries, 562344.67 ha of other water resources like paddy field/canals/natural reservoir, and river fisheries amounts to 11060.6 km.

Potential for export of ornamental fishes

Assam has about 217 species of ornamental fish, most of which are highly valued in the international market. Among them, Channa barca found in the upper stretches of the Brahmaputra fetches very high value in both the national and international markets.

"Some of the ornamental fish breeders and traders transit their produce and wild collection to Guwahati and neighbouring states like West Bengal and Meghalaya. But there is no organized market for ornamental fish in Assam. And for the local ornamental fishes, there is no specific market. Some farmers sell their products to aquarium stalls or to customers directly. Shillong is a good market for the sale of ornamental fishes, " said Joint Director Medhi.

Assam exports more than 40 indigenous ornamental fish species to other states. The "Pilot Project on Ornamental Fisheries" of the National Fisheries Development Board has been also been completed. It provides for integrated ornamental fish unit, medium-scale rearing unit, backyard rearing unit, establishment of ornamental acqy=uatic plant, establishment of freshwater ornamental fish brood bank, establishment of aquarium in schools/colleges/government offices, and capacity building program on ornamental fishes.

"Assam has tremendous scope for ornamental fish business, for both import and export, especially to the North Eastern states," he said.

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