Fish is a cheap source of animal protein. It is an important part of our diet. Fish production includes two categories:
There are two main ways to get fish:
Fish can live in different water sources. They can be found in seawater or freshwater, such as rivers and ponds. Fishing can be done in both types of water.
India has a long coastline of 7500 km. It also has deep sea areas. These areas are rich in marine fish. Popular types of marine fish include:
Fish are caught using different types of fishing nets from boats. Technology helps in fishing. Satellites and echo-sounders locate large schools of fish in the sea.
Some marine fish of high economic value are farmed. This includes:
Oysters are also farmed for pearls. As marine fish are getting fewer, the demand for fish can only be met by fish farming. This practice is called mariculture.
Inland waters include:
Brackish water areas, where seawater and freshwater mix, are also important. These include estuaries and lagoons. Capture fishing is done in these waters, but the yield is usually low. Most fish production comes from aquaculture.
Fish farming can be done with rice crops. Fish can grow in the water of paddy fields.
Composite Fish Culture is a more intensive farming method. It uses a mix of five or six fish species in one pond. The fish species are chosen so they do not compete for food. This helps in using all the food available in the pond efficiently.
For example:
This way, all fish can live together without competing for food. This increases fish yield.
However, there are challenges. Many fish breed only during monsoons. Fish seeds can mix with other species. A major problem is the lack of good-quality seeds. To solve this, hormonal stimulation is used to breed fish in ponds. This ensures a steady supply of pure fish seeds.
How are fish obtained?
What are the advantages of composite fish culture?
What types of water can fish live in?
What technology is used in marine fishing?
What is mariculture?
