Experiments in Fish Culture The local fishing community, who was involved in designing the IMFFS until monitoring, was satisfied with the mangrove and halophyte cultivation on the bunds. However, the villagers stated that the income from sea bass culture was limited. They suggested that fish mullet and tiger prawn can be grown together, which would fetch more income. In a one-hectare pond, 1,000 prawn juveniles and 2,000 fingerlings of mullet can be stocked with a stocking density of one prawn and 0.2 fish per sq. m. It is expected that there would be approximately 60 per cent of survival for prawn and 50 per cent for fish and an average body weight of 50 grams for prawn and one kilogram for fish. This would fetch a profit of about INR.40,000 / (USD 800) in 8 months. In another proposed experiment, about 4,000 fingerlings of sea bass will be cultured in a one-hectare pond with a stocking density of 0.4 fish per sq.m. The size of the stocking fingerlings will be 10 cm. An innovative practice will be followed to enhance survival and growth rate of sea bass. All the fingerlings will be first conditioned for the IMFFS environment in a happa in which brooders of tilapia fish will be introduced. They will act as biofeed by supplying young ones to sea bass during conditioning. It is expected that approximately 50 per cent of the fish will survive; at the end of eight months the body weight will increase to about 750 grams. It is expected that INR 70,000 (USD 1,400) to 80,000 (USD 2,000) will be generated as net profit at the end of eight to ten months. Conclusions Until December 2009, more than 1,500 fishermen including fish farmers, officials from Fisheries Department and specialists in coastal livelihood have been exposed to IMFFS. As an approach to the rehabilitation of derelict 22 THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY abandoned shrimp farms in the coastal belt, the IMFFS model has huge replication potential both at the national level and in the global arena. It would take care of both livelihood and ecological need of the coastal areas. While suitable for high saline areas, IMFFS is appropriate for suitable for sandy coastal areas. IMFFS is highly suitable for crab culture. The root system of mangrove trees would provide shelter and food to a commercially valuable crab called mud crab or mangrove crab. Raising mud crabs is difficult in open aquaculture ponds because they easily climb the bund and move out. Secondly, mud crabs are cannibalistic and weak moulted crabs are killed and eaten by strong unmoulted crabs in the absence of any shelter. It is expected that when mangrove trees grow, its root system would provide a natural environment for the crabs and thereby prevent migration of crabs. The intricate root system would provide protection to moulted crabs. Most importantly, crabs are detritivourus (feed on detritus) and mangrove trees ensure availability of enough detritus for crab culture. In terms of species, it is important to avoid carnivorous species. Rope culture of mussel can be tried in the pond along with fish culture since there is great demand for mussel in Kerala. The main weakness of the system is initial costs (about INR 200,000 per acre – USD 4,000). A thorough study on economics of the farming system should be worked out to start the replication process. IMFFS should also be tried on a large scale and lessons learned from such trial should be used for replication. Availability of land is the biggest issue though a large tract of saline affected lands are available in the coastal area of Tamil Nadu, most of which belong to government agencies. A remedy would be the development of policy support to allotting land to IMFFS.
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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