Fisheries Director called for rearing & propagating of ornamental fishes as source of livelihood

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 7, 2022

The inauguration of two Backyard Mini RAS (Re-circulatory Aquaculture System) and Backyard ornamental Fish rearing units was held at Laitkor Rngi Wahkdait and Mawlai Nongkwar on Friday.

The two units was inaugurated by Director of Fisheries AL Mawlong, MCS in the presence of the Superintendent of Fisheries, East Khasi Hills Shillong Hameka Papang and other officials of the department.

Speaking on the occasion, Mawlong informed that Backyard Mini RAS and Backyard ornamental Fish rearing unit were the ever first such kind of fish rearing being engaged and assisted by the Fisheries department in the state Meghalaya under the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampoda Yojana) 2020-21.

She also said that Mini RAS is a kind of fish farming technology where water is recycled and reused after mechanical and biological filtration and removal of suspended matter and metabolites.

This could be set up in household backyard required minimum land area and water compare with the traditional fish farming in big fishery pond which requires huge land area and volume of water, she further said.

She also said this farming relatively produces more or less equally good production compare with the traditional farming in big ponds and is an opportunity to grab and adopt in the households.

Mawlong informed this type of fish farming could be established even in the urban household where land availability is scarcity.

The Fisheries Director encouraged the beneficiary to take the project ahead diligently and being an example to others.

She encouraged to rear and propagate an indigenous ornamental fish such as loaches, murrel since our region possesses variety of fishes and good potential in this sector to sustain livelihood.

She also insisted the beneficiaries concerned to consult and cooperate with the technical staffs of the department at any time in due course of engagement the projects so the implementation will be successful.