Question

What is composite fish culture? What are the advantages of composite fish culture?

Answer 1

Hint: Composite fish culture is also called Polyculture. In 1971, ICAR initiated All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on the composite fish culture of Indian and exotic fishes under different Agro-climatic conditions in the country.

Complete answer:
Composite fish culture is the process of rearing different species of fish in the same area or fish pond. Nearly, five or six different species are grown together in a single fish pond. The survival rate of fish increases and their yield also increases without affecting the other species. For example, Catla feed on the surface of the water, rohu are middle zone feeders, mrigal and common carp are bottom feeders, and grass carp feed on weeds. This ensures complete utilization of food resources in the pond. Such a system increases the fish yield.

Advantages of composite fish culture are-
1. It helps to get a variety in fish yield.
2. Food in the pond gets evenly used up due to different varieties of fish having different food habits present in a pond.
3. Fish do not compete for food as all types of fish get their kind of food.
4. The effective expenses are less.

Note: Fuller utilization of the pond’s productivity for maximization of fish yield, the aim in composite fish culture, is achieved through an intensive culture of fast-growing, compatible fish species with complementary feeding habits occupying different ecological niches in the pond.