20 July 2008 e-planet 6 (2): 20 -26 INDIGENOUS ORNAMENTAL FISHES: STATUS, ISSUES AND STRATEGIES FOR PROPAGATION AND CONSERVATION S. K. Swain 1 , S. K. Singh 2 , P. Routray 3 and N. K. Barik 4 ABSTRACT The ornamental fish is an emerging area of research and development owing to its growing popularity in the country. Entrepreneurs in the country have shown interest in the utilization of the indigenous ornamental fishes for economic development of the country. But, there are many areas of concern in the conservation and utilization of indigenous fishes as irrational exploitation of it may lead to the depletion of these vital resources. There are two streams of strategies for the conservation of the resource, i.e through in-situ and in-vivo conservation and development of breeding technology. This paper reviews the status and issues involved in the propagation and conservation of the indigenous ornamental fishes in India. Key words : ornamental fish, biodiversity, conservation, breeding technology 1,3 Senior Scientists, Aquaculture Production and Environment Division, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar-751002 *Corresponding author: Ph. +91-9437268341. e-mail: swain_saroj2002@rediffmail.com. 2. Technical Officer, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar-751002 4. Scientist, Agricultural Economics, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar-751002 INTRODUCTION Ornamental fishes form an important commercial component of aquaculture, providing for aesthetic requirements and upkeep of the environment. Nowadays keeping ornamental fish in aquarium and garden pool is a fashion. New varieties of fish are brought in the purview of ornamental fishes over the period of time. Out of this, only few species are bred in captive conditions and rest are traded after collection from natural water bodies like lakes, wetlands, rivers, stream, flooded lowlands etc. The traders and exporters of the indigenous ornamental fishes are banking upon rampant exploitation of these fishes from the natural ecosystem. If this continues, there is a serious apprehension that we may loose our indigenous stocks. Therefore, conservation of the indigenous ornamental fishes is a key to sustain the ornamental fish industry both within and outside the country. Two basic strategies are adopted for the conservation and propagation of these vital resources i.e in-situ and in-vivo conservation and development of the breeding technology. Many initiatives are taken by the national and international research and developmental agencies on various strategies to conserve the indigenous ornamental fishery resources. The present paper reviews the issues, strategies and initiatives in the conservation and propagation of the indigenous ornamental fishes in India. India possesses a rich fish biodiversity of about 2118 species, out of which more than 600 species are distributed in freshwater lotic and lentic systems . The country further possesses a rich diversity of non-food colourful fish as prospective candidate species for ornamental purposes, with over 100 varieties of indigenous species and similar number of exotic species that can be bred in captivity. Such a large fish biodiversity in the country is supported by the presence of vast natural freshwater resources comprising 2.36 million ha ponds and tanks, 1.3 million ha beels, jheels and derelict waters in addition to 0.12 million canals, 2.05 million ha reservoirs and 75,000 km stretch of rivers (FAO, 2000). It offers a greater scope for utilization and commercial production of the fishes in comparison to those of other potential countries like Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and many African countries. BIODIVERSITY OF INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF INDIA The indigenous fishes are distributed across all parts of the country but few regions are considered to be hotspot of these resources. It is estimated that about 33% are available in North-Eastern region, 24% in Southern region, 23% in Eastern region, 6% in Western region, 3% Northern region, 2% in Central region and 10% throughout India (Swain, 2006). The two pockets of North-Eastern Hill region and the Western Ghats remained unexplored to a large extent and still many fishes are untapped. Out of 806 fish species inhabiting in freshwaters of India, the total fish species reported from North Eastern States consist of 114 genera belonging to 38 families and 10 orders; the number of fishes include 217 in Assam, 167 in Arunachal pradesh, 165 in Meghalaya, 134 in Tripura, 121 in Manipur, 68 in Nagaland, 48 in Mizoram and 29 in Sikkim, some of them being commonly found at more than one places (Pers. comm. NERC, CIFRI, Guwahati, Assam). Out of the total number, 196 species are considered as ornamental. Sinha