A national workshop on conservation of native freshwater fishes held at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies has urged the State government to set up small scale hatcheries in inland regions to popularise the aquaculture practices of the species that have been listed under the endangered category.
The two-day workshop was organised by Prof. Alikunhi Chair at KUFOS.
Experts pointed out that the native freshwater species such as snakeheads and cat fishes have higher commercial value compared to the usual farming varieties like Catla and Rohu.
In order to promote the farming practices of these species, small scale regional hatcheries should be set up in inland areas, the fisheries experts said.
The workshop recommended that the farming community could utilise the breeding technology of the fresh water fishes and actively involve in the farming activities towards conserving the species.
Boosting of farming practices of the local fish varieties would help to conserve the species, it observed.
Experts also suggested that Kudumabasree units could develop small scale entrepreneurship by effectively utilising the farming technologies of the species.
Indigenous traditional knowledge regarding the breeding techniques of the local fishes should be preserved, they said.
