Aquaculture

Cirrhinus reba is a commercially important freshwater minor carp that belongs to the family Cyprinidae under the order Cypriniformes. It is commonly known as Reba carp and its Assamese name is Lashim Bhangon. The most distinguishing feature of this fish species is the presence of single dark longitudinal band along the lateral line of its body. Under the Gene Bank Project-Scientific Conservation Programme of Indigenous Fish (SCoPIF-SP: II) funded by Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Assam, captive breeding of this fish species has been first reported in Assam in the month of May, 2021. Cirrhinus reba (Reba carp) has got high consumer preference in Assam due to its sweet taste and high nutritional value. In-spite of its high consumer preference, the species is not commercially cultured due to non-availability of fish seed in our region and throughout India. In the gene bank project of COF, AAU, Raha the fishes were collected from various wetlands of Morigaon district, Assam and the wild stocks were domesticated for one year at the college fish farm. The fishes were artificially induced bred through hormone injection during the month of May-June, 2021. Around 140 brooders were injected with inducing agent Ovafish at a recommended dose of @ 0.5 ml/kg for female and 0.25 ml /kg for male. Male:female ratio was maintained 3:1 during the breeding cycle. The larval rearing of the young ones is presently going on at the fish farm of College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. The breeding programme was successfully performed by Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha.

The humped featherback, Chitala chitala is considered as a commercially important food, sport, aquarium and highly priced cultivable fish. It is known as ‘king’ among all the cultivable fishes of Assam. It is commonly known as featherback due to the presence of a very long anal fin originating from opposite to mid pectoral and confluent with caudal fin giving the appearance of a feather. Chital is the most adorable fish among the fish-eating population of Assam. The market price of the fish is almost double than that of the Indian major and the exotic carps. This year on 15th May, 2021 habitat breeding of Chitala chitala was successfully performed at the fish farm of College of Fisheries, Assam Agricultural University, Raha under the Gene Bank Project-Scientific Conservation Programme of Indigenous Fish (SCoPIF-SP: II) funded by Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Assam. In fish pond of College of Fisheries, Raha, the Chital brooders spawned immediately after the early monsoon rains following dilution of pond water to some extent. The peak season for habitat breeding of Chitala chitala has been reported to be in the first quarter of May to June as observed from the study under the project. However, the extended breeding season lasts up to the month of July -August. In the breeding trial, captive spawning of Chital was observed where spawning pairs of male and female fishes move together near the artificial spawning grounds. Chital generally spawns on hard substrates such as wooden planks, old tyres of car or bus, tree trunks, bamboo poles etc. At the fish farm of College of Fisheries, Raha major part of the egg deposition was recorded in the old tyres of car. Chital eggs were 6.0-6.5mm diameter and were adhesive in nature. Few numbers of eggs were laid in the bamboo poles and the wooden trunks of trees. During the breeding season extending from May to June, 1000-1500 nos. of fingerlings of chital were being successfully reared under captive condition at the fish farm of College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha. Habitat breeding without hormone injection was successfully performed by Dept of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha.

Three faculties of the department viz. Mr. Sangipran Baishya, Mr. Kaustubh Bhagawati and Dr. Pabitra Kumar Saharia established two numbers of AAU model carp hatchery in Kokrajhar and Udalguri respectively at farmers field under the TSP project (2018-19) for quality fish seed production in these disadvantageous districts of Assam. Through the AAU carp model
hatchery, seed production and rearing cluster of Kokrajhar and Udalguri district had achieved
great success which improved the socio-economic upliftment of the rural masses.

The technology for production of carp yearlings developed by the department has been transferred successfully at farmers level. 15 nos. of demonstrations on production of carp yearlings have been
successfully completed in different districts under APART during the year
2019-20

The IFS module on Pig Fish Farming and Poultry Fish Farming developed by the department has been transferred successfully at farmers' level.

The technology demonstration on short duration fish culture is ongoing successfully under APART in 15 selected districts of Assam. The package of practice for short duration fish culture has been developed and farmers have started adopting this technology. 15 nos. of demonstration on short duration fish culture has been
successfully completed and greater adoption has been achieved by the farming
community.

A total number
of 6 post graduate students from Department of Aquaculture qualified in the
ICAR -National Eligibility Test exam conducted by ASRB, New Delhi during the
last 5 years. 

One faculty viz. Mr. Kaustubh Bhagawati attended DBT
sponsored 3 months National Training in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
for Fisheries Professionals at CIFE, Mumbai & CIFA, Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Binod Kalita, Professor & HOD, Dept. of
Aquaculture attended 2^nd International Scientific Conference in
Aquatic Animal Epidemiology Aquaepi 2019, Thailand.

i)       
Eight districts has been
covered with cage culture technology in the beels to enhance the productivity.

A total of 20 numbers of students have completed MFSc and 2 numbers of students have completed PhD from the Department of Aquaculture.