Ornamental fish mall at Madhavaram soon

‘Will benefit wholesalers and retailers’

KERALA, PALAKKAD, 11 /12/14. Ornamental fish flocking in a aquaculture nursery in Palakkad. Ornamental fish culture is fast emerging as a major branch of aquaculture globally. Aquarium keeping is the second largest hobby in the world next to photography and the ornamental fish and aquatic plant industry is fast gaining importance due to its tremendous economic opportunities. The growth of ornamental fish trade in India is very much encouraging. Most of the ornamental fishes cultured and marketed in India are exotic species. Our country has a rich and unique biodiversity with a variety of indigenous ornamental fishes. But this resource has not been properly exploited. the Western Ghats of India is a gold mine of tropical ornamental fishes and it is one of the 25 "hotspot" areas of the world. It exhibits exceptional mega biodiversity and high degree of endemism with respect to fresh water fishes. Kerala with its highly conducive climatic conditions provides scope for the development of ornamental fisheries. This sector assumes special significance due to its huge potential in providing employment to the people hailing especially from rural sector and as a foreign exchange earner. The low production cost and higher returns with in a very short time, growing demand for fishes both from domestic and international market are the major attractions of this sector when compared to any other sector. Photo: K_K_Mustafah KERALA, PALAKKAD, 11 /12/14. Ornamental fish flocking in a aquaculture nursery in Palakkad. Ornamental fish culture is fast emerging as a major branch of aquaculture globally. Aquarium keeping is the second largest hobby in the world next to photography and the ornamental fish and aquatic plant industry is fast gaining importance due to its tremendous economic opportunities. The growth of ornamental fish trade in India is very much encouraging. Most of the ornamental fishes cultured and marketed in India are exotic species. Our country has a rich and unique biodiversity with a variety of indigenous ornamental fishes. But this resource has not been properly exploited. the Western Ghats of India is a gold mine of tropical ornamental fishes and it is one of the 25 "hotspot" areas of the world. It exhibits exceptional mega biodiversity and high degree of endemism with respect to fresh water fishes. Kerala with its highly conducive climatic conditions provides scope for the development of ornamental fisheries. This sector assumes special significance due to its huge potential in providing employment to the people hailing especially from rural sector and as a foreign exchange earner. The low production cost and higher returns with in a very short time, growing demand for fishes both from domestic and international market are the major attractions of this sector when compared to any other sector. Photo: K_K_Mustafah -

Soon, you can buy ornamental fish at the Madhavaram Aquatic Rainbow mall, which is a part of the Aquatic Rainbow Technology Park (ARTP), managed by the Tamil Nadu Dr J. Jayalalitha Fisheries University (TNDJJFU). The ARTP was developed at a cost of ₹10.30 crore for three years from 2015.

“We are trying to create a hub for ornamental fish like the one in Kolkata. This will help both the wholesalers and retailers and lead to our fish being listed in the Singapore market,” said Felix, Vice Chancellor, TNDJJFU.

“We are trying to establish a marketing network where our indigenous fish varieties, including those from the Western Ghats — Sahyadria denisonii and Dawkinsia filamentosa , and the North East — Puntius sophore and Danio dangilla — can be popularised and sold. This park also aims to shift the shops from Kolathur to Madhavaram,” he said.

There are a total of 60 shops that will be allotted to those interested to sell ornamental fish, aquariums and related items. Of these, 44 were inaugurated last month and 10 allotted to groups already working in the ARTP.

The 10 units have begun breeding fish and are ready to sell their products.

S. Veeramaindan, who has been in the ornamental fish culture for 20 years now, said since water in Kolathur had high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), the move to Madhavaram was a welcome one.

“This ARTP is one of a kind in the country where RO water is supplied to the units. The university has provided advanced technology to the units. Water is the key and with good technology and facilities, we can develop any of the 5,000 varieties of ornamental fish available in the world,” he said.