Finfish seed collection in Krishna and West Godavari Districts, Andhra Pradesh

摘要

Marine finfish culture using locally available wildudseed is gaining importance in Andhra Pradesh. Fishesudsuch as Asian seabass, milk fish and different speciesudof mullets are the major species available in sufficientudquantities in the wild. Understanding the availabilityudof the wild seeds in the backwaters of Krishna andudWest Godavari districts, aquaculture of those fishesudhas been established in most of the coastal districtsudof Andhra Pradesh. Part- time seed collectionudoperations are being practiced by fishermen in severaludfishing villages from these districts. Traditionaludmethods of fish seed collection employed are basedudon tidal patterns. There are two major methods ofudseed collection depending on the location. The fishudseeds are collected using scoop nets during low tideudtime from the water pools in the mangroves. The fishudseeds are also collected with drag net or seine net inudthe backwaters and sea shore areas. During high tide,udnets are installed with poles, near periphery of theudestuary. The fish seeds get collected in the net duringudlow tide and when water recedes further they areudcollected by the fishermen. The seed collection isudmainly practiced during March to May for Asianudseabass, March to July for milk fish and throughoutudthe year for mullet. Large scale seed collection is beingudfollowed for Asian sea bass and milk fish.