Animal Husbandry – Fish Production: Long Answer Questions
Medium Level (Application & Explanation)
Q1. Differentiate between capture fishing and culture fishery. Explain their importance in fish production.
Answer:
- Capture fishing means catching fish from natural water bodies.
- It is done in seawater and freshwater like rivers and reservoirs.
- Culture fishery means farming fish in controlled water bodies.
- It is done in ponds, tanks, and paddy fields.
- Capture fishing depends on natural stocks. Culture fishery gives a steady yield.
- Both help meet the need for cheap animal protein for people.
- With falling marine catch, fish farming becomes more important.
Q2. Describe the main features of marine fisheries in India and the role of technology.
Answer:
- India has a 7500 km coastline and deep sea areas.
- These waters have fish like pomfret, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and Bombay duck.
- Fishing is done with nets from boats.
- Satellites and echo-sounders help find large schools of fish.
- Some valuable marine organisms are farmed, like mullets, bhetki, prawns, mussels, oysters, and seaweed.
- Oysters are also farmed for pearls.
- As marine fish decline, mariculture helps meet market demand.
Q3. Explain inland fisheries and why aquaculture is important in these waters.
Answer:
- Inland waters include canals, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers.
- Brackish waters like estuaries and lagoons are also used.
- Capture fishing is done, but the yield is low.
- Most production comes from aquaculture in managed ponds.
- Fish can also be grown in paddy fields with rice.
- This uses the same land and water for two products.
- Thus, inland fish farming raises total yield and income.
Q4. What is Composite Fish Culture? Explain its working and advantages with examples.
Answer:
- Composite Fish Culture uses 5–6 species in one pond.
- Species are chosen so they do not compete for food.
- Catla feed at the surface.
- Rohu feed in the middle layer.
- Mrigal and Common carp feed at the bottom.
- Grass carp eat weeds.
- All food in the pond is used well, so the total yield increases.
Q5. Why is induced breeding (hormonal stimulation) needed in fish farming? Explain its benefits.
Answer:
- Many fish breed only in monsoons.
- Natural breeding gives limited and mixed seeds.
- Hormonal stimulation helps fish breed in ponds.
- It gives a steady supply of good-quality and pure seeds.
- It reduces mixing with unwanted species.
- Farmers can plan stocking and harvest on time.
- This improves production and profit in aquaculture.
High Complexity (Analysis & Scenario-Based)
Q6. A farmer has a 1-hectare pond. Design a Composite Fish Culture plan to maximize yield. Justify your species choice.
Answer:
- Use multi-species stocking to reduce food competition.
- Stock Catla for the surface feeding niche.
- Stock Rohu for the middle water layer.
- Stock Mrigal and Common carp for the bottom layer.
- Add Grass carp to use weeds as food.
- This fills all feeding zones, so all natural food is used.
- The result is higher total yield from the same pond.
Q7. A coastal village faces falling marine catches. Propose a mariculture plan to meet demand and stabilize income.
Answer:
- Shift part of effort to mariculture near the coast.
- Farm finned fish like mullets and bhetki in sea cages or pens.
- Culture shellfish like prawns, mussels, and oysters.
- Add oyster farming for pearls as a high-value option.
- Use satellites and echo-sounders to plan catch days better.
- Mariculture provides steady supply when wild stocks go down.
- It helps keep income stable for the village.
Q8. Compare the sustainability of capture fishing and aquaculture in ensuring food security. Give reasons.
Answer:
- Capture fishing depends on natural stocks and seasons.
- Over time, catches may decline due to low stock.
- Aquaculture gives controlled and predictable production.
- It can use ponds, tanks, and even paddy fields.
- With good seeds and planned stocking, yields increase.
- For long-term supply of animal protein, aquaculture is reliable.
- A balanced mix of both can support food security.
Q9. A pond shows mixed fish seeds and poor growth. As a farm manager, outline steps to ensure pure seeds and better yield.
Answer:
- Avoid mixed seed from unknown sources.
- Use hormonal stimulation to breed in ponds.
- Produce pure seeds of selected species.
- Stock Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Common carp, and Grass carp as planned.
- Keep proper nursery and rearing stages before final stocking.
- Monitor and remove unwanted species early.
- This improves growth, survival, and total yield.
Q10. A farmer wants to grow fish with rice in paddy fields. Explain how to plan and what benefits to expect.
Answer:
- Choose fish that can grow in shallow water.
- Prepare channels or pits so fish can move and survive.
- Manage water depth to support both rice and fish.
- Use a small composite mix suited to the field size.
- This uses the same land and water for two outputs.
- The farmer gets extra fish yield along with rice.
- It improves overall farm income and protein supply.