International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2024; 12(1): 137-140

E-ISSN: 2347-5129
P-ISSN: 2394-0506
(ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 76.37 Fish seed production and hatchery management at
(GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549
IJFAS 2024; 12(1): 137-140 Bhimpur National Seed Farm, Banswara, Rajasthan
© 2024 IJFAS
www.fisheriesjournal.com
Received: 20-12-2023 Yogita Ninama
Accepted: 19-01-2024

Yogita Ninama DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/fish.2024.v12.i1b.2902

Department of Zoology SBP
Government College, Dungarpur, Abstract
Rajasthan, India Fish production in India occurs successfully and contributes GDP in fish farming agriculture. Fish seed is
the most important for farmer’s profit and sustainable development. Fish seed quantities, quality and
supply chain is basic and foremost for sustainable aquaculture. For fish seed culture optimum stocking
density of fingerlings shall be required every year. In intensive fish culture hatchery management is
essential. in effective hatchery management we need to know basic elements about hatchery construction,
fish farming, fish rearing and their breeding process e.g., hormone in fish spawning, hypophysation and
compounds used for induced breeding. This paper give detail about fish farm in southern Rajasthan
demand, resources and maintenance. Fish farm management, seed quality, induced breeding and fish
agriculture helped to meet the demands of the fish seed in Tribal region.

Keywords: Fish seed production, hatchery management, induced breeding hypophysation, nursery
management, sustainable aquaculture

Introduction
In Banswara, Rajasthan fish production and its demand is growing in recent years. Mahi dam
is largest water body in Vagad region. All varieties of fishes occurred in mahi dam.
Environment for fish production in southern Rajasthan is excellent. The need for the
production of quality fish seed for stocking the fish ponds and natural water bodies has indeed
increased steadily (Brain and Army, 1980) [2]. For fish production collection, selection and
manipulation of breeders required. The numbers of nursery, rearing and production ponds for a
hatchery depend on the number of fry and fingerlings expected from the hatchery (Ayinla and
Nwadukwe, 1988) [4]. The knowledge about water quality parameters like ph, alkalinity and
DO, feed (natural and artificial), resistance to diseases in fish is required most. For successful
production of fish water quantity, transportation and fish food demand is necessary.

Materials and Methods

Area of study: The government fish seed production centre at Bhimpur (Banswara) was
established in the year 1972-1973 for major carp. (Fig. 1. & 2.) Bhimpur fish farm is situated
in southern part of Rajasthan.

Corresponding Author:
Yogita Ninama
Department of Zoology SBP
Government College, Dungarpur,
Rajasthan, India Fig 1 and 2: Fish Seed Production farm
~ 137 ~
International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies https://www.fisheriesjournal.com

In hatchery for labeo and pangasius species well growth,

environmental factors are very suitable. The breeding of labeo
and catla is performed in farm and fry and fingerlings are
distributed to the farmers. Pangasius is also favourable fish
seed for farmers. Composite culture is in best practice for fish
seed and food for people. Some of these fishes are.
 Labeo Rohita.
 Catla catla.
 Pangasius pangasius.
 Tilapia mossambica.

Hatchery construction
Hatchery needs flowing water with affordable temperature
during the breeding season. The hatchery tanks or pond
provide stimulating environment to ripe brooders for induced
spawn. Pipes for outlet and inlet water system serves for
regulating the water level. A fish farming centre divided into
different fish ponds. Fig 4: Hatching pond
1. Breeding pond
2. Hatching ponds
3. Nursery ponds
4. Rearing pond.

Fig 3: Breeding pond Fig 5: Nursery pond

Breeding pond Nursery pond

Ponds of size oval shape with 1.0 to1.5 meter and depth 2.0 to These are 50x50x4 feet. Young fry about 3 to 5 days old are
5.5 with cemented uniform side slope and bottom with liming transferred from spawning ponds to nurseries, where they
and fertilizing (exposed with sun) with controlled pipe system remain for about 30 days. (Fig. 5) This involves the collection
for complete drainage of inlet and outlet of water were of male and female gametes for artificial fertilization or the
selected (Fig. 3). Air and sunlight exposure needed for proper collection of fertilized eggs from spawning mats, heaps and
movement and healthy environment. Its surrounding should spawning receptacles; incubation of fertilized eggs, hatching
be getting sufficient wind action and exposure to bright day and maintenance of hatchling (Nwadukwe et al., 1991) [4].
light for 6-8 hrs in a day for at least 2-3 months from January
to February onwards. This quantum of exposure and a Rearing pond – such ponds may be seasonal or perennial of
moderate range of water temperature (27-32 ºC) seem to be 90x30x4 feet in size and are used for rearing advanced fry for
optimum and quite inductive for rapid growth of gonad of 2-3 months. (Fig. 6.).
fish. Proper selection of brooder fish for induced breeding is
the first step. Female healthy breeders of Catla, rohu, mrigal,
grass carp and common carp of above 2 years age group and
weight range are normally up to 2 kg selected.

Hatching ponds
These are the small tanks usually of 8x4x2 feet and are used
for hatching the fertilized eggs. These are located near the
brood pond. (Fig. 4) A continuous but slow flowing water is
desirable for aerating the eggs. The tanks are fixed up with
happa called hatching happa made of coarse cloth of mosquito
curtain cloth. For survival and growth of eggs and larvae,
physicochemical and microbial parameters of water should be
tested properly.
Fig 6: Rearing pond

~ 138 ~
International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies https://www.fisheriesjournal.com

Stocking pond Fish Feed

Stocking pond size may be 300x88x6 feet or about an acre. Three types of food used in fish ponds: natural food;
(Fig. 7.) Stocking of fingerlings of various major carps in the supplementary feeds, and complete feeds.
ratio of 3:3:4 (Catla, Rohu and Mrigal) is done successfully 1. Natural food: Natural food is found naturally in the pond.
with a survival rate of 70-80%. While stocking, the principle It may include plankton (Spirulina, Oscillatoria, and
to be kept in mind is that the area of 1m² is needed to attain an chlorella), worms, insects, snails, aquatic plants (Hydrilla,
average weight of 1 kg per year. Vallisneria, Najas, Utricularia, and Eichhornia) and fish.
Their abundance greatly depends on water quality.

2. Supplementary food: The mixture of rice, pulse, oil cake,

cattle dung, fish meal is fed to Catla, Rohu, Mrigal and
Common carp. This mixture is available in terrestrial plants,
kitchen wastes or agricultural by-product. Fish food must be
easy to eat and digest. Feeding increases fish production from
the water body and makes farming profitable. For better
results Feeding with powered cotton-seed, containing
vitamin-E promotes gonadal maturity in fishes.
Fig 7: Stocking pond 3. Complete food: This mixture is made of selected
ingredients to provide all the nutrients necessary for the fish
Aerators and Diffusers to grow well. These feeds are quite difficult to make on the
Aeration is important for hatchery systems. This instrument is farm and are usually quite expensive to buy. (Fig. 10 & 11).
in available in floating and static pumps and used to circulate
the oxygen into water. (Fig. 8. & 9.).

Fig 8: Aerators and Diffusers Fig 10: Fish food

Fig 9: Aerators and Diffusers Fig 11: Fish food

~ 139 ~
International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies https://www.fisheriesjournal.com

Breeding 2. Brain FD, Army C. Induced fish breeding in South East

Induced breeding produces seed of much greater consistency Asia. Report of the workshop held in Singapore, 25-26
and fish can be spawned on demand when it matures. It also November. 10RC-178e; c1980.
provides ample opportunities for stock improvement by 3. Charo H, Oirere W. Reverse-based artificial propagation
selective breeding. In hatchery farming brood stocks are of the African Catfish, Clarais gariepinus: An option for
maintained in separate ponds. Brood fishes are injected with the small fish farmer. NAGA-The ICLARM Q. Jan-
inducing hormones in hapa breeding (Fig. 3. Breeding pond). March. 2000;2(1):14-16.
Both the males and females are injected synthetic hormones 4. Nwadukwe FO, Ayinla OA, Abbey-Kalio NJ. Effects of
(Ovaprim or Ovatide). These synthetic hormones are Various Dose of Acetone-Dried Powder Carp Pituitary
administered @ 0.1-0.4 ml/ kg female and 0.2-0.4 ml/kg Extract and Seasonal Changes of Fecundity and Hatchery
male. Propagation of Heterobranchus longifilis (Val. 1840)
(Pisces: Clariidae). In: Tobor JG, Ezenwa BIO, editors.
Fish Seed Hatchery Towards Self Sufficiency in Fish Production in Nigeria.
The source and means of procuring fish seed directly Proceedings of a Seminar, 10th December. NIOMR,
influence the production of fish from fish culture. It provides Lagos; c1991. p. 40-45.
for fish eggs to develop and hatch by maintaining proper 5. Qureshi A, Dube P. Economic Aspects of Fishes in Fish
water temperature, oxygen levels, disease control, food and Market of Jhalawar.
protection from predators. The production of eggs, larvae and
fingerlings in a hatchery depends on the number of hatch able
eggs, survival and growth rates of the larvae (Charo and
Oirere, 2000) [3].

Fig 12: Fish pond - pangasius

Results and Discussion

Complete hatching facilities of fish farm are needed to
produce the fish seed. Natural conditions and proper
management can obtain higher percentage of brood stock.
Separate fish ponds with plenty of water, food and
physicochemical parameters (ph, alkalinity and dissolved
oxygen) for rearing of offspring obtained breeding,
monitoring, growth and maturation in desired fish seed in
adequate quantities are needed.

Conclusion
Fish food is very important for India’s growing population.
Fish farming earning is beneficial for unemployed people.
Fish is important for health. In fish hatchery requirement
water and transportation facilities availability is necessary.
Fish farm employee must have knowledge of pond
construction and management, expert in induced breeding and
hypophysation. Fish seed distribution provide good
opportunity to farmers to produced fishes in hatchery.

References
1. Ayinla OA, Nwadukwe FO. Effects of Season on
Controlled Propagation of African Catfish, Clarias
garipinus (Burhell 1822). In: Bernacsk GM, Howard P,
editors. Aquaculture Systems Research in Africa.
Proceedings of a Workshop, 14-7 November, 1988,
Bouake, cot d Ivoire. IDRC; c1988. p. 198-120.
~ 140 ~