Journal of Environmental Biology

Stocking density affects growth and economics of rearing Amur carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) in floating cage in floodplain wetland of the River Brahmaputra

H. Saikia¹, J. Abedin², K. Bhagawati², S. Baishya², A.N. Patowary³, J. Thakuria⁴, B. Bordoloi⁵, R. Yasmin² and P.K. Saharia²*     

¹Department of Fisheries, Government of Assam, Kamrup Guwahati-781 016, India.

²Department of Aquaculture, Assam Agricultural University, College of Fisheries, Nagaon-782 103, India

³Department of Fisheries Extension, Economics and Statistics, Assam Agriculture University, College of Fisheries, Nagaon-782 103, India

⁴Zonal Livestock Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Mandira-781 127, India

⁵Fisheries Research Centre, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 013, India

Received: 10 June 2024                   Revised: 03 August 2024                   Accepted: 04 October 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : pabitra.saharia@aau.ac.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3413-0980

Abstract

Aim: The study evaluates the effect on growth-and related economic benefits of rearing commercially important food fish, Amur carp, Cyprinus carpio haematopterus fry, in a cage culture system, influenced by stocking densities.

Methodology: A 90 day long rearing experiment was conducted in a seasonally opened ecologically sensitive floodplain wetland of the Brahmaputra riverine system at Jaluguti Beel. Floating cages of 6×4×2 m with an effective volume of 40 m-3 were used for rearing the fish. Experimental fish (n = 10800) of initial weight and length 0.17 ± 0.01 g and 1.90 ± 0.05 cm (mean ± SE), respectively, were distributed among four different stocking densities: SD15 (15 fish m^-3), SD20 (20 fish m^-3), SD25 (25 fish m^-3), and SD30 (30 fish m^-3) executed in triplicates, following a completely randomized design.

Results: The overall growth of fish was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by varied stocking densities. The specific growth rate of reared fish in different stocking densities were 3.43 ± 0.04, 4.20 ± 0.06, 2.96 ± 0.02, and 2.71 ± 0.02, in SD15, SD20, SD25 and SD30, respectively. The biomass (kg per cage) achieved in different stocking densities were 35.90 ± 0.20, 38.50 ± 0.31, 37.20 ± 0.35 and 35.40 ± 0.50.

Interpretation: The present findings found an inverse relation between growth performance and stocking density. The study also proposes that rearing of Amur carp fry at a stocking density of 20 fish m^-3 in a wetland-based cage aquaculture system yields a better growth response without compromising the benefit cost ratio.

Key words: Amur carp, Cage culture, Flood plain wetland, River Brahmaputra, Stocking density, Wetland conservation

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