104 Journal of the Andaman Science Associaion Vol. 21(1):104-108 (2016) ISSN 0970-4183, Printed in India © Andaman Science Associaion, Port Blair (A & N Islands), India Portable FRP Carp Hatchery: A Tool for Biodiversity Conservation in Fisheries B.C. Mohapatra*, P.P. Chakrabarti, N.K. Barik, D. Majhi, S.K. Mahanta, H. Sahu, S. Lenka, A. Nanda, S. Mishra and P. Jayasankar ICAR – Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Bhubaneswar - 751002, Odisha, India *bcmohapatra65@gmail.com Abstract ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology (PET), centre at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar has designed and developed a complete set of hatchery system in ibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) material for ish breeding and hatchery rearing of seed. The portable hatchery has been found to be a suitable gadget, as the users can easily install and operate it anywhere in India. In one run 1.0-1.2 million carp spawn can be produced from the system. The system is suitable in ield conditions for breeding most of the cultured Asiatic carps viz., Rohu (Labeo rohita); Catla (Catla catla); Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala); Kalbasu (Labeo calbasu); Fimbriatus (Labeo imbriatus); Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix); Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella); and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). With some modiications this system has been used for breeding of Magur (Clarias batrachus); Pangasianodon hypophthalmus; Pabda (Ompok bimaculatus); Tengra (Mystus vittatus & M. gulio); Silver barb (Puntius sp.), etc. In lean season the system can be used for ornamental ish rearing or common carp breeding or water storing. This hatchery can be a tool for ish biodiversity conservation through seed production of endangered and threatened ish. The unit can be operated by unemployed youth, Gram panchayat and Cooperative Society on self-operational / rental basis. By December, 2014, it has been installed in 26 states and A&N Island of the country. Keywords: FRP carp hatchery, seed production, biodiversity conservation, portable Introduction The earlier part of 20 th century has witnessed the carp seed collection from Bundhs and riverine resources by adopting different devices and collection methods. In India for the irst time in 1957, carps were induced bred in captivity by administering carp pituitary extract. The breeding of carps, hatching of eggs and rearing of hatchlings up to spawn stage were carried out in different rectangular hapas made up of cloth. They were ixed in the pond for clear oxygenated water. In hapa system, the entire operations were weather dependent and subject to various environmental hazards. During seventies, glass jar hatching units of various capacities were designed and made to use successfully for hatching. The system had its own drawbacks for commercial seed production. During eighties, the carp eco-hatchery technology got familiar in India. During nineties, different models of hatcheries with different materials (HDPE, PVC, LDPE liner, Ferro-cement, etc. in various shapes and sizes) came to the existence with certain degrees of success at research level, but, they could not penetrate to the grassroots levels. The ICAR-AICRP on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology, centre at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar has designed and developed the complete set of hatchery system in FRP for carp ish breeding and hatchery rearing of seed (CIFA, 2004 & 2005; ICAR, 2005; Mohapatra et al., 2003; 2004; 2005, 2007, 2008 & 2011a). In one operation it can produce 1.0 - 1.2 million carp spawn. The developed system has several merits like: easy for transportation to different farm sites, easy installation and operation, low water consumption during ish breeding and spawn production, easy to repair, less space requirement for installation, less weight and durability of the product for 10-15 years. In lean season the system can be used for ornamental ish rearing or common carp breeding or water storing. The unit can be operated by unemployed youth, Gram Panchayat and Cooperative Society on self-operational / rental basis. The innovation