Neither of two existing FSDC hatcheries could be used for breeding fish during the 1984 monsoon spawning season when the consultant was present.
Both the Demar and Salud hatcheries were still under construction, providing no opportunity to work at the indoor hatchery, nor at the majority of the ponds. Indoor hatchery facilities, as well as the water supply system were not ready to do any breeding work, even in the traditional way in hapas.
Kuthelabata Fish Farm, taken over by FSDC, works very well but, by producing a large number of spawn and fry for profit, it has no time nor capacity to produce breeders for FSDC hatcheries beforehand to raise donor fish for collecting pituitaries or to train staff in World Bank hatchery technology, as was planned previously.
In addition, the farm has some difficulties with the fresh water supply, working with the sewage water from the oxygenation ponds. Water supply and drainage systems were partly destroyed.
The personnel include the hatchery manager and three technicians (two trained at Kuthelabata), with part-time labour available.
There are five ponds partly filled with water. One pond was stocked with some breeders of catla and rohu. The remaining ponds were prepared for stocking with hatchlings from Kuthelabata. Cow dung remaining after fertilization of ponds was visible on the dikes. The water supply was arranged by a temporary installation from the deep tube well.
Empty ponds, in most cases, need some levelling because of the lack of slope toward the subsidiary gates.
Small segregation ponds, with turn-down pipes, situated on the end of the site, are located too far from the hatchery. Use of these ponds for separation of different species of breeders will cause additional time and labour. Segregation ponds should be as close to the hatchery as possible, taking into consideration land transport of fish in canvas bags.
The drainage system from one pond into another should be replaced in the future by an independent water supply and drainage system commonly used in segregation ponds. A catching pen or main ditch could be formed in these ponds to avoid netting of fish.
Planning is necessary for additional water supply from the Soya Distributory Canal and sufficient protection against entry of trash fish should be provided. Filters and removable screening systems may be used for this,
4.1.1.1 Facilities, equipment and other necessities
Facilities were constructed according to the guidelines and should have been ready by the next spawning season. However, construction of the indoor spawning pools is unsuitably oriented.
They are mounted on very high bases, but are too shallow to accommodate a sufficient number of breeders to obtain uniform batches of spawn for stocking even one pond. Different placement of spawning pools is suggested, they should be constructed at the normal level of rectangular basins, much lower than at present. This is for easier operation and to avoid destruction of eggs during collecting by water, which will run with high pressure from an almost 2 m high water level to the collection box.
At the Demar Hatchery, collection of eggs should be shifted directly to the funnels, which are situated at least 1 m higher than the collecting canal.
Some engineering details related to hatchery management were discussed with the executive engineer.
The necessity of individual regulation of water flow through the funnels was pointed out, as well as screening of the water outflow from the hatching troughs.
Two different possibilities of water outflow arrangements were demonstrated, i.e., standing plastic pipe inside the troughs, and turn-down pipe with overflow hose.
When collecting eggs and spawn, it is necessary to avoid large differences in water levels between the troughs, pools and collection boxes.
Personnel at this hatchery include the hatchery manager and some part-time labourers. There are three ponds partly filled with water from an existing canal by a temporary pipeline arrangement. There is no possibility of screening the water intake to avoid trash fish invasion but this protection should be provided in the future, as at the Demar Hatchery.
Two ponds were stocked with 4.9 million catla and rohu spawn from Kuthelabata. A third one was waiting for stocking.
In spite of the low water level there was a hole in the dike of one of the stocked ponds (behind the subsidiary gate). It looked like poor compaction of soil around the drainage pipe.
Water supply and drainage facilities should be repaired at the Kuthelabata Fish Farm as quickly as possible to avoid further destruction and to stop invasion of trash fish into the ponds.
After all necessary repairs, the production target at Kuthelabata should include breeders and donors of pituitary glands and training of the staff in FSDC hatchery technology, especially incubation of eggs in funnels. Lack of such activities could lead to further delay, even after completion of construction work at World Bank hatcheries, due to the shortage of sufficient numbers of breeders and lack of experienced workers. Even if pituitary glands were actually purchased from the Calcutta market, the cost of pituitaries taken from the fish farm's own donors would be much lower and the activity of the pituitary glands probably higher.
Immediate action should be taken, as follows, at the construction sites:
Collect the breeders from the open water bodies and private owners for first breeding work. Transport them with use of anaesthetics (samples were given) oxygenation and icing if possible.
Raise pond breeders in the existing hatchery ponds.
Raise pond breeders for Demar and Salud hatcheries in the existing Kuthelabata Fish Farm.
Prepare and collect all necessary equipment and chemicals including equipment for monitoring water chemistry, to be ready for the next spawning season.
Collect pituitary glands from the catches in open water by the hatcheries own workers.
Small-dose hypothysation of catla with common carp pituitaries, acetone dried, was successfully done.
Small-dose hypophysation of grass carp with common carp PG gave no results, probably due to wrong timing in tropical conditions.
Observations of Wet Bundh breeding in Tappa.
In spite of the delay in construction work, FSDC has started raising fingerlings, even under difficult conditions and using temporary facilities. Together with other activities in Kuthelabata and Wet Bundh in Tappa it should help to make some profit.
“Guidelines for Fish Hatchery Operation”, prepared by the FSDC in Madhya Pradesh in 1983 could be a good pattern for other states.
Current financial plans had to be recalculated according to existing possibilities.
Hatchery managers have been appointed for the two most advanced hatcheries and supporting staff technicians have been selected and live at the hatcheries.
Exclusive use of the Chinese hatchery system gives good results but West Bengal FSDC technology was not applied, not even to incubate eggs.
None of the four existing World Bank FSDC hatcheries could be used for fish breeding during the monsoon spawning season of 1984.
A visit to the Chipilima hatchery showed that the buildings are in an advanced stage but the pond construction was not too far advanced. In spite of this, the first stocking with spawn from other hatcheries was done for distribution and raising the breeders. Similar activities were reported at the other hatcheries. A total stocking of 40 million spawn was reported by the production manager in WB/FSDC hatcheries in Orissa.
Ponds prepared for stocking had been filled with rain-water at Binika and Chipilima hatcheries, at Bhanjangar they were filled from a temporary water supply from the existing canal system and at Saramanga from the deep tube well.
Three Department fish farms near FSDC hatcheries were taken over for only six months at Bhadrake, Burla and Bolangir. The total stocking of spawn was reported as 7.5 million.
In spite of the recommendations of the CPU, the FSDC Orissa has not taken over any of the existing fish hatcheries large enough to raise the breeders and donors of PG. The time of the lease (six months) was not adequate to do this job. Some help from the Department of Fisheries is badly needed in this matter. Use of the farms for raising fingerlings only means further delays of two to three years, even after completing construction of the WB/FSDC hatcheries, due to the shortage of breeders and good pituitaries, which should be produced by existing fish farms taken over from the Department for at least two to five years. There is also no possibility to train the officers who will be working at the hatcheries. Actually there are no hatchery managers appointed. Without such a farm organization they will face serious financial problems in the near future.
Since it was not possible to work at the WB/FSDC hatcheries, some breeding operations were started in Department fish farms at Somepur. Kausalyaganga, Brick Field and Puri.
Two different anaesthetics were checked. Propiscin tranquilized mrigal and silver carp after 1.5 min, with a dose of 2 ml/l of water/temperature 29.5°C, with recovering time about 2–3 min. This does not work with rohu even after 20 min in 3 ml/l solution. Twophaenoxaethanol works fast with: catla, rohu and silver carp at a concentration of 0.3 ml/l of water at 31°C. It still takes four minutes to tranquilize rohu; recovering time is 2–3 min.
Three attempts were made, to breed silver carp. Dosing, timing, handling of spawners and stripping with the use of anaesthetics, as well as incubation in funnel nets, was arranged.
Positive results were obtained with 4 mg PG + 6 h + 12 mg PG of IMC after about 6 h/174-168°h/in water temperatures 29–31°C respectively. HCG combined with pituitary gave positive response with a dose of 3 mg HCG + 2.2 mg of PG IMC + 6 h + 12.2 mg of HCG. Ovulation took place after 7.5 h/210°h/at water temperature of 28°C.
The fertilization rate was mostly poor or nil, only in one case did it exceed 60 percent. Poor final results could result from over-maturation of breeders but lack of experience and training in stripping was visible in some cases.
Rough estimates of stripping time in different water temperatures were prepared. However, different dosing of hormone could change the pattern.
Fig. 1 - Relation between water temperature and stripping time shown in degree-hours
Careful studies were made of plans and drawings shown by FSDC.
Similarly to Madhya Pradesh, FSDC Orissa has started to raise fingerlings in spite of organizational difficulties. Some additional help will probably be necessary from the Department to take over some farms, even for at least two to five years, to help produce breeders and PG donors.
Selected fisheries officers should join the crew of FSDC as hatchery managers to buy the breeders and prepare the equipment and facilities for the next breeding season. A full list of the necessary equipment was prepared previously by the production manager.
With facilities to train the staff at the Kausalyaganga Fish Farm, new patterns of hatching nets should be checked there as quickly as possible to compare hapa incubation.
None of three existing WB FSDC hatcheries could be used for fish breeding during the 1984 monsoon spawning season.
At the Yamunadighi Hatchery, the delay in construction of an overhead tank allowed no chance to work at the indoor hatchery but the buildings and the indoor hatchery were almost ready to use.
The hatchery manager and supporting staff were in place. They are raising fry/fingerlings at the old ponds taken over from the Department at Yamunadighi for profit. Almost 1 million spawn were stocked. Unfortunately, their small size and year-round shortage of water supply provides no larger scope for raising breeders and to carry on all the activities suggested by the CPU. In spite of this, almost 500 kg of breeders were raised here, as reported by hatchery manager.
Actually, there is no other fish farm taken over from the Department by FSDC to raise breeders and PG donors. However, taking into consideration the availability of breeders and pituitaries in West Bengal, it could be easier to buy them from the Department or private owners than in other states.
A working model of the World Bank pattern hatchery was constructed at Malda Bara Sagar Dighi Fish Farm but no serious training was organized by FSDC. Also, the recommendations of the hatchery engineering consultant, made after his assignment in 1982 have not been followed.
A demonstration of the use of anaesthetics was carried out during the visit at Bara Sagar Dighi with results similar to those in Orissa.
The availability of HCG for use in fish breeding was discussed with INFAR (former ORGANON) representatives. Samples of HCG for FAO's pituitary bank were collected.
Some data were collected from the private fish hatchery of Chatterjee Brothers. A demonstration of full-scale stripping operations of silver carp was observed, with incubation of eggs at the Chinese hatchery incubation pool.
The method of breeding fish at the Bangla-Bundh and construction details were collected.
Discussion on some details of technology led to the same conclusions as in other states (See Recommendations, Section 5).
The situation in FSDC West Bengal is similar to previously visited states. Basic staff is appointed but breeders and PG donors were not prepared beforehand. Even if the working model of the WB hatchery was prepared by the Department according to the recommendations of the present management specialist in 1981, there were no serious attempts to use it for fish breeding.
At Bhusaula-Danapur, one of the existing FSDC hatcheries in Bihar, some ponds were prepared with a temporary supply of water from the tube-well and some breeders were raised at the supporting fish farm early enough to spawn them during the actual monsoon season!
In spite of the fact that the fish breeding took place at hapas, it was one of the first breeding operations in FSDC/WB hatcheries. During one month, from 4 July to 6 August 1984, using traditional methods, FSDC Bihar obtained 2 329 500 spawn. These were stocked at the farm's own ponds at Bhusaula and at Raria Fish Farm. Successful breeding also included catla, which was spawned in artificial conditions for the first time in Bihar, as reported by the production manager. The hatchery manager and two technicians have been appointed at the hatchery and part-time labour is also available.
Actually there is only one small fish farm in Raria taken over by FSDC from the Department. This farm has raised almost 1 200 kg of prospective and fully mature breeders. Part of these fish were used for spawning in 1984, including grass carp, which were imported to Bihar from West Bengal according to the plans shown three years ago. In spite of the production of breeders, the farm also delivered some pituitary gland donors; FSDC collected 300 mg of common carp pituitaries.
Small fish farms taken over from the Department only partly fulfilled their objectives of raising breeders and PG donors beforehand, training and selecting staff, and making some profit for FSDC. According to explanations, there are no farms large and good enough to do this work.
There was no market for fingerlings already produced at Bhusaula-Danapur Hatchery. Even the small numbers of fingerlings produced at the hatchery this year have found no outlet and marketing of seed in the vicinity could be a problem.
Careful market studies and much more publicity must be carried out in close relation with the Department of Fisheries, taking into consideration:
according to the CPU guidelines. Additional agreement with the Department could be arranged for stocking of open water bodies as a “safety valve”. Production patterns must be adjusted as closely as possible to the market demand, even if it will force FSDC hatcheries to produce fish seed later than it was originally planned.
There are problems with the appointment of hatchery managers as well as supporting staff. Open advertisements provided no results. Due to this, Sitamouri, Raghopur Bakharai Hatcheries, which had facilities good enough to do some breeding work in 1984, could not start yet. Transfer of prospective staff from smaller fish farms should be carefully arranged with the Department.
As there are problems in finding suitable sites in north Bihar, according to certain studies of climatic conditions, it would be useful to find some hatchery sites in south Bihar as well. Large reservoirs available there could be a valuable source of breeders and future outlet for fingerlings.
Even if the funnel hatching net pattern, prepared by FSDC Bihar, was one of the best, there was no training in breeding technology mentioned in the CPU guidelines. It could cause some problems at the beginning of exploitation of indoor hatcheries like in other states.
When planning the spawning of exotic carps, the broodstock was carefully examined but, since available females of silver carp were overmatured, there was no chance to do so. In spite of temporary arrangements, the majority of breeders were in good condition, even if frequent seining caused some mechanical injuries. It will take some time to teach part-time labourers how to work with sensitive breeders.
Use of tranquilizers for transport purposes was examined. A safe concentration of Propiscin in 31°C was: One ampule (9 ml) for 5 1 of water (1.8 ml/l).
After tranquilization of fish, five additional litres of water were added/0.9 ml/l of water. Transport of fish in the final concentration, with constant oxygenation of the water, could be carried out during at least the next two hours. Similar data for twophaenoxyaethanol were initially 0.4 ml of twophaenoxyaethanol/l of water and the final transporting concentration, 0.2 ml of twophaenoxyaethanol/l of water.
Parasite examination of fingerlings from two ponds showed negative results; the fish were parasite-free.
This was one of the first FSDC hatcheries which had started breeding fish in 1984. Even using a temporary installation, traditional methods and a small fish farm taken over from the Department, FSDC Bihar produced a considerable number of breeders, pituitary gland donors and some fish seed.
They have also started to train supporting staff in these methods.
The Fish Seed Development Corporation of Uttar Pradesh completed construction of two hatcheries: Gomtinagar in Lucknow District and Soraonpati in Allahabad District. The first breeding operations at spawning pools of the indoor hatchery and the first incubation of eggs at hanging funnels took place.
The Pagla Bhari Hatchery, Faisabad District, produced some hatchlings using classic methods of breeding fish in hapas. Details given by Executive Managers can be found in Appendix 1.
Raising the breeders and donors of pituitary glands, as well as the first experiment with hatching funnels, were carried out at three supporting fish farms taken over by FSDC from the Department. Necessary staff was appointed beforehand.
| The personnel at this hatchery includes: | |
| Executive hatchery manager | 1 |
| Technicians | 2 |
| Fishermen | 5 |
| Part-time labour | 3 |
Ponds: All ponds and the central channel are completed including subsidiary gates and turfing. Due to this, it is the only place where erosion problems are not as large as in other hatcheries.
The bottoms of the empty ponds have a slope toward the subsidiary gates and were carefully mechanically prepared to keep them free from weeds and to obtain a faster mineralization rate.
There were four ponds stocked with spawn. Netting operations and selling of the fry took place during the consultant's visit.
Water supply from a deep tube well and from an existing irrigation canal is available. There is heavy screening, as well as a sedimentation pond on the surface water intake to protect the ponds from trash fish.
Facilities, equipment and other necessities
Multipurpose rectangular troughs at the indoor hatchery could be used after a small adjustment and depending on necessity for:
holding breeders
chemical treatment of fish
incubation of eggs in funnels
conditioning of fingerlings
Round spawning pools at the indoor hatchery could be easily converted into Chinese-type incubation chambers.
Three different patterns of incubation funnels were tested. The last one will be further improved to obtain a larger capacity during the next season.
There was direct water supply from the well to the indoor hatchery. However, according to the FSDC plans, an overhead tank will be constructed for the next spawning season.
According to information from the chief project engineer, turndown draining pipes will be slightly modified with additional small overflow and flexible hose to collect eggs and spawn at the collection hapas located at the drainage ditch. Additional grooves for dividing this ditch for the necessary collecting basins with wooden stoplogs could be provided (See report ADCP/Circ./84/8, Recommendations, Page 19, C, (iii) 1.
Additionally, two large water valves could be provided inside the hatchery for easy cleaning and rinsing of troughs, floor and draining ditch with flexible hose and strong water pressure.
There is no generator yet at the hatchery. A diesel standby pump was used for emergency purposes.
Seines, nets, hapas, incubators, plastic bags, transporting tins and oxygen cylinders, as well as fish food in storage compartments and other necessary equipment used at the hatchery were noticed during the consultant's visit.
The personnel at this hatchery is the same as at the Gomtinagar hatchery, listed above.
Ponds: There are two ponds not yet finished but this did not affect breeding work or raising of fingerlings. These ponds are separated from the central channel by ready subsidiary gates and construction work could be continued.
Turfing of the dikes was not yet completed, so some erosion problems occurred.
Almost 5.5 ha of ponds were stocked with IMC spawn and two other ponds were stocked with breeders raised at supporting farms.
Water supply was from deep tube wells. Some problems with wild growth of water weeds was noticed in a few ponds and preparation of the pond bottoms after drainage should be done similar to Gomtinagar hatchery.
Facilities: The facilities are similar to Gomtinagar but the water supply was from an overhead tank constructed on a hill close by. The water inlet to the spawning pools should be hidden at the tank's walls at an angle of 45° to avoid breeder injuries during spawning.
According to the information provided, 20 to 30 incubation funnels were used at Gomtinagar and Saraon Pati hatcheries. Funnels were located at 4 to 6 rectangular troughs. After the breeding at the spawning pools, eggs were removed by scooping and stocked in hatching nets at the rate of about 200 000 per 45 litre of funnel capacity. With a fertilization rate of eggs of 60–90 percent, survival to spawn varied from 50–85 percent and was much larger than in the hapas.
Hatchlings were held at the trough with a large screening surface around the draining pipe and stocked in ponds after resorbtion of the yolk sack.
Because the number of fry for sale in one batch was not too large, netting was used to harvest the fish. Draining of the ponds through the central channel was not performed.
This is the only FSDC which completed two hatcheries and started breeding work at the indoor hatchery according to plan.
Interesting innovations and flexible engineering were adapted to local conditions and exigencies of technology. There are no problems with staff recruitment. Three “supporting farms”, Gujartal, Kathuta Tal and Tendua, delivered breeders and donors of PG as suggested by CPU.
The incubation system used at the hatcheries proved satisfactory in spite of a much higher loading capacity of hatching nets of 200 000 per 45 litre funnel.
