With the annual trawling ban and downturn in availability of sea fish, twin factors that have shot up the prices, denizens in the city are turning to freshwater offerings. While perennial favourites such as mathi (sardine), ayala (mackerel) and choora (tuna) take a back-seat for the time being, their freshwater cousins such as karimeen (pearlspot), rohu, catla, varal (snakehead murrel), kaari (stinging catfish) and the likes are swimming to the foreground.
“In the last month, the demand for local fish has gone up. In fact, certain days, we find it hard to meet the demand,” says A Aji, a fisherman from Vellayani. With the establishment of Vellayani Matsya Thozhilali Vikasana Kshema Sahakarana Sangham in 2011 that has been spearheading fishing activities in the Vellayani lake, door-to-door sales of fish in the locality has turned more organised, with a centralised sales counter of the cooperative society close to Kakkamoola lake.
C Muraleedharan, president of the Sangham, says: “We have been replenishing popular naadan (local) fish varieties such as karimeen and what we call valarth konju (farm prawns) that can be harvested in about six months. Smaller endemic variety of prawns multiply by itself naturally in the lake but they are seasonal and smaller in size,” he says.
A fisherman uses a paddle to stir up waters of the Vellayani lake to guide fish into nets
The society’s counter opens at 7 am, often to waiting customers. “The hottest seller is karimeen. Other popular ones are the carp species that include rohu, catla and mrigal. Rohu and catla are generally found aplenty in the lake as they exhibit faster growth. Other common local varieties are varal, tilapia, kaari and so on,” says Muraleedharan.
Over the years, fish farming has gained in popularity, both for profit and as a past-time. Like G Sathyan who rears tilapia and karimeen fingerlings in cement tanks at his home near Vellayani. “Most of the fishlings are sourced from farms in Muttom in Kanyakumari district and Chennai. I also bring in some from Poovar,” he says. Sathyan says ideal conditions need to be in place for fish farming to sustain. “Generally, the practice needs a large space, maintenance of PH level and quality of water and the right food for the fish,” he says. Most of his customers now are those looking to start small-scale aquaponics.
Karimeen (pearl spot)
Vysakh Rameshkumar, owner of SAV Fish Farm at Karikkakom, has been farming mainly catla and rohu, two popular varieties. “However, there’s been a growing water scarcity, impacting farming. Hence, I have also been rearing ornamental fishes,” he says. Many breeders and fish farmers avail themselves of government subsidy schemes for promotion of a self-sufficient aquaculture. Amal Raj M R, owner of AS Aqua Farm and Hatchery in Kattakada, is one such beneficiary. The farm fish breeder says a hybrid variety called ‘Assam vaala’ is the most sought-after fingerling in his farm for its accelerated growth and early harvestability.
For Jaison C Augustine, fish farming is a hobby. With his friend Ajith Kumar, the duo maintains a “fish pond” at the latter’s residence near Sreekaryam. “I’m from Thodupuzha and fish farming is prevalent there. I started experimenting with aquaponics two years back as I also keep a kitchen garden and found a productive way to recycle organic waste. I later shifted to fish farming in an artificial pond due to maintenance costs. It’s fun,” says Jaison who works at Technopark. He rears Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) that attains full growth in about six months. “Though done on a small-scale, there’s a big demand for my fish among my friends and colleagues,” he says with a laugh.
A freshwater prawn harvested from the Vellayani lake
The district has two government fish hatcheries — one at Odayam in Varkala that’s predominantly for brackish water varieties and National Fish Seed Farm at Neyyar established last yearfor freshwater species — to meet seed demands on a commercial scale. R Radha, assistant director at Odayam hatchery, says: “We mainly focus on spawning and supply of Macrobrachium rosenbergii , or giant river prawn, and Penaeus monodon, better known as giant tiger prawn, perhaps the two most sought-after varieties for their unique taste.” Seeds are supplied to fish farmers with licence from Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
The hatchery comes equipped with a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) lab where fishlings are tested for virus before despatch. “This year’s target for the monodon variety is 10 million. We also liaise with Janakeeya Matsya Krishi cell to reach out to more small-scale fish farmers,” adds Radha.
Meena Kumary, assistant director at Neyyar National Fish Seed Farm, says the hatchery focuses on freshwater fishes such as catla, rohu, mrigal, Cyprinus carpio or the common carp and grass carp. “Several fish farmers prefer the fleshy carp family as they are popular in the market,” she points out.
