GUWAHATI, May 17 ? The North-east, endowed with excellent varieties of ornamental fish species, has the potential to be a major player in the world trade of ornamental fish, which has crossed the one billion dollar mark in recent times. According to a preliminary survey, about 20 varieties of ornamental fish such as botia dario, channa stewartii, channa barca, hara hara, garra, etc, are exported annually from the region. However, this trade is confined mostly to the unorganised sector and the few people supplying such fish to the exporters in Kolkata and Chennai, etc, are not getting the actual price prevailing in the global market as they are not the direct exporters.
Considering the potential, Colleges of Fisheries, Raha, of Assam Agricultural University, has shortlisted a few ornamental fish species for research on captive breeding under the National Agriculture Technology Project. The project has been successful in captive breeding of six potential local varieties of fish so far. Underscoring the need for more research in the field, Dr SK Das, Associate Professor of College of Fisheries, Raha, said research will directly help in conserving natural resources and fish biodiversity of the State as the dependence on nature for ornamental fish collection will decline. ?Protection of the aquatic habitat where these fish live and reproduce, banning export of the threatened and rare varieties of local fish, developing protocols for breeding and larval rearing of local fish, and cultivating the habit of rearing indigenous fish in home aquariums are the urgent needs to this end,? he felt.
Global trade in ornamental fish is multiplying at an annual growth of ten per cent, and India?s share in it with an annual export of Rs 3 crore is still quite nominal, although exports from Asian countries account for nearly 60 per cent of global trade. Almost 80 per cent of the market consists of freshwater ornamental fish as they are more user-friendly and popular. India at present exports only the freshwater varieties, Kolkata being the largest exit point followed by Mumbai and Chennai with a few registered exporters.
Assam can become a leader in exporting ornamental fish, with it being probably the richest State in wetlands and waterbodies. With its proximity to Kolkata and also with regular international flights from Guwahati nowadays, it can easily reach out to the lucrative market in South East Asia like China, Malaysia and Singapore.
However, to turn all this into reality, all concerned, especially the government agencies, must motivate, train and assist young entrepreneurs of the North-east to take up this promising venture. Setting up local networks or associations to deal with all aspects of the trade, besides conducting more research on aquaculture and breeding techniques and methods of collecting and shipping ornamental fish, can go a long way towards achieving this end.
Prof Das feels that since captive breeding of local egg-laying species may be a difficult proposition for beginners because of lack of information on captive breeding, one should start initially with captive breeding of the live-bearing ornamental fish varieties like guppy, molly, etc ? exotic species from outside. Once they gain experience, they can go for local varieties based on available technologies. Although a good market for local varieties is yet to develop in the North-east, a good local market for exotic fish from outside is already there in the region.
Collection of ?live jewels?, as ornamental fish are often called, is now the second largest hobby in the USA next only to photography. Europe and Japan come after the USA as far as the demand for such fish is concerned.
In Assam, some commonly known ornamental fish are botia, kholihona, dorikona, cheng, chonda, tura, etc. In order to qualify to be called ornamental, a fish has to be attractive with beautiful colours that do not fade when under captive condition. Besides, peaceful nature and compatibility with other fish in the aquarium, ready acceptability of artificial food, and adaptability to live in small confinements are the other yardsticks to judge the ?live jewels?.