Quarterly organ of the Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute BarrackporeII

1" SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE JANUARY 1990 ISSN 0970-6143

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NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON RESERVOm FISHERIES

Shri Kiranmoy Nanda, Hon 'ble Minister for Fisheries, Govt. of West Bengal,

inaugurates the Workshop by lighting. the lamp

A National Workshop onReservoir Fisheries was ,held atBarrackpore from 3-4 January 1990

. under the auspices of the Central InlandCapture Fisheries Research Institute andthe Asian Fisheries Society, IndianBranch. During the two-day colloqium,a galaxy of fisheries experts convergedto Barrackpore to deliberate upon thiscrucial topic. Reservoirs being the mostimportant among the inland capturefisheries resources of the country, theWorkshop on Reservoir Fisheriesattracted the attention of distinguishedprofile of fisheries specialists in the

country. More than one hundredregistered delegates; representing theCentral and State Governments,Agricultural Universities, FisheriesColleges, Universities, FinancingInstitutions, Developmental Agencies andregistered societies, parti.9pated in theWorkshop.

The Workshop spanned into fourtechnical sessions viz. ReservoirFisheries Management - General Issues,Conservation' and EnvironmentalManagement, Case Studies from Regionsand Limnology and Trophic levels.

inaugural session. Seated on the dais are (from left) Shri G.Gananeela, Dr. Arun G. Jhingran, Shri M. Muniappa, Shri

Kiranmoy Nanda, Prof. H.P.c. Shetty, Dr. V. D. Singh and Dr. V.K.Unnithan

Inaugural Session

The Workshop was inauguratedby Shri Kironmoy Nanda, Hon'bleMinister for Fisheries, Govt. of WestBengal on 3rd January 1990 at acolourful function at Barrackpore. Theinaugural Session was presided over byShri ,M. -Muniappa, Secretary(Fisheries), Govt. of Karnataka.

Shri Kironmoy Nanda

While addressing the delegatesShri Nanda described the Work~hop as atimely event, as the Central and StateGovernments have identified the

reservoirs as a priority sector in inlandfisheries. He pointed out that thecountry has made significant progress indeveloping sqientific know-how forreservoir fisheries management for thelast two decades and he was optimisticthat the wide-scale application of thetechnologies will lead to considerableproduction hikes from Indian reservoirswhich may add about 0.3 million tonnesof additional fish at a moderate yield rateo,f 75 kg per hectare. He called forconcerted efforts by researchers, policymakers, administrators and thefisherfolk to optimise the fish yieldfrom Indian reservoirs. He lauded the

efforts of CICFRI in organising theworkshop which provided an excellentforum for effective interaction amongthe various agencies. Emphasising theneed to bring more fishing activitiesunder the cooperative sector, he saidthat the cooperatives will go a long wayin ensuring that the benefits ofincreased productivity will really reachthe fishermen who toil in water. TheMinister appealed to the delegates to givesufficient thoughts on the socio.economicconsiderations related to capturefisheries development which was highlylabour-intensive 3nd providedopportunities for skilled, semi-skilledand unskilled rural poor. Mr. Nandasuggested that the state

Government functionariesshould strive to imbibethe expertise available atthe research organi­sations to the maximumextent in order tooptimise the fish yieldfrom the reservoirs. Heexpressed the hope thatthe National Workshop,while delving deep intothe pros and cons ofreservoir fisheriesdevelopment in thecountry, would makespecial efforts to linkthe productivity witheconomic and nutritionalprosperity and socialjustice.

Shri Nanda released theproceedings of the Workshop on ExoticAquatic Species conducted by the AsianFisheries Society during April 1988 atMangalore.

The address of Shri T.N.Narasimha Murthy, Hon'ble Ministerfor Fisheries, Govt. of Karnataka wasread by Shri G. Gananeela, Director ofFisheries, Govt. of Karnataka. TheMinister, in his address, stressed theneed to make the technologies developedby the Institute acceptable to thecommon man. Pointing out that India has

The Hon 'ble Minister (Right) being received by Dr. Arun G.Jhingran, Director, CICFRI and Prof. H.P.C. Shetty, Director

of Instructions, Fisheries College, Mangalore

Shri Gananeela, Secretary (Fisheries), Govt. of Karnataka, Dr.

M.J. Bhagat, Ex-Scientist, CICFRI, Barrackpore, Shri

Kiranmoy Nanda, Hon 'ble Minister, Govt. of West. Bengal

and Dr. Arun G. Jhingran, Director, CICFRI, Barrackpore.(From left to right)

very rich inland fisheries resources,next only to China, he expressed theview that the production level fromthese resources remained at a very lowlevel. He called upon both researchersand administrators to put in their bestefforts to bridge the gap between theproduction potential and the actual yield.

A key-note address prepared byDr. B. C. Sarma, Joint Secretary(Fisheries), Ministry of Agriculture &Cooperation, Govt. of India, wasdelivered by Dr. V.D. Singh, DeputyCommissioner (Fisheries). In his key­note address, Dr.Sarma pointed out thatthe producti1ity of Indian reservoirscan be increased from the current levelof 14.5 kg/ha to at least 100 kg/ha bybringing them under scientificmanagement practices. The mainconstraints, according to him, were thenon-availability of suitable fish seed inadequate quantity, lack of post-stockmanagement care, unimaginativeexploitation policies, inadequateinfrastructural facilities for fish seedproduction and lack of extensionsupport. While stressing on the role ofcooperatives in reservoir fisheriesdevelopment, Dr. Sarma disclosed thatthe Central Government was launching amassive scheme to develop 27 000 ha ofreservoirs in the states of Karnataka,Gujarat and Maharashtra. Conceived inthe Seventh Plan, the scheme will takeoff during the Eighth Five Year Planunder the aegis of the NationalCooperative Development Corporation(NCDC). More than 4660 fishermenand 90 fishermen cooperative societiesin 332 reservoir sites are expected tobe benefited by this 10.96 croreproject. He pointed out that theGovernment of India has recentlyundertaken preliminary surveys onmonitoring and evaluation of stockingpractices in some selected reservoirs,involving an FAO consultant. Futurestrategy for reservoir fisheries shouldbe oriented towards creation of facilitiesfor seed production, he said.

He called upon the StateGovernments to give serious thoughts toundertaking remedial measures forremoval of the constraints hamperingthe reservoir fisheries development andto formulate an action plan upto 2000AD. Dr. Sarma advocated large-scalepen and cage culture operations inreservoirs not only 'to raise the stockingmaterial but also to produce table fish.Citing examples from Alabama (USA),Thailand and Cambodia, he said thatproduction rates upto 18 t/ha/yr havebeen achieved from this system ofculture. He wanted the expert gatheringto discuss merits and demerits ofintroducing exotic species into Indianwaters and to come out with some usefulrecommendations. Eventhough manyresearchers have expressed theirconcern regarding the introduction ofalien species, some of them might turnout to be useful, if their introduction iscarefully planned. In many parts of theworld, induction of exotic species hasproved to be complimentary to theindigenous fish fauna resulting inincreased productivity.

He expressed his confidence thatthe Workshop would yield fruitfulresults and outline the future strategy tobe adopted for reservoir fisheriesdevelopment in the country.

Shri M. Muniappa, Secretary(Fisheries), Govt. of Karnataka alsospoke on the occasion. He released theAsian Fisheries Society (IB) souvenir.Prof. H.P.C. Shetty, Chairman, AsianFisheries Forum, Indian Branch, in hisintroductory remarks, stressed theimportance of reservoirs in thedevelopment of inland fisheries in thecountry. Reviewing the technologicaladvancements made in. this sector, hesaid that the state Governments,cooperatives and financing organisationshave a key role to play in the adoption ofmodern techniques in reservoirfisheries management. He expressed thehope that the scientists, beurocrats,academicians and policy-makersparticipating in the Workshop would

give the guidelines for an integratedapproach to reservoir fisheriesmanagement which has the potential tobridge the gap between the demand andsupply of inland fish to a considerableextent.

Dr. Arun G. Jhingran, Director, CICFRI

delivering his welcome address.

Earlier, Dr. Arun G. Jhingran,Director, Central Inland CaptureFisheries Research Institute,Barrackpore extended a very warm andcordial welcome to the guests anddelegates. Welcoming Shri KiranmoyNanda, Hon'ble Minister for Fisheries,West Bengal, Dr. Jhingran describedhim as a constant source of inspirationand guidance. Shri Nanda has beenextending his patronage and support toevery sphere of the Institute'sactivities. He was grately concernedwith the fisheries development not onlyin West Bengal but the country as awhole.

A technicalsession in

progress. On thedais are Dr.

Kuldip Kumar,Shri D.V.H.

Dixitulu and Dr.

V. V.Sugunan

Technical Sessions

The scientific deliberations ofthe Workshop were conducted under fourtechnical sessions followed by a plenarysession. The technical sessionsdiscussed general issues, conservationand envoronmental management, casestudies from States, and Limnology &Trophic levels.

I. General Issues

The first technical session viz.,General Issues in Reservoir FisheriesManagement was chaired by Shri J.V.H.Dixitulu, Fisheries consultant andEditor, Fishing Chimes. Dr. KuldipKumar, Chief Warden of Fisheries,Himachal Pradesh was the Co-chairmanand Shri V.V. Sugunan, Senior Scientist,CICFRI, Barrackpore acted as theRapporteur. Seven scientific paperswere presented in the session.

Dr. B.S. Saxena, the notedFisheries Economist presented a paperentitled 'Potentialities, production andproblems of Indian Reservoir Fisheries'.This was followed by the paper on'Harnessing reservoirs for increasingproduction' by Dr. S.C. Pathak ofNABARD. "Development of reservoir

fisheries - areas of hope and despair",by Shri S. Paul and V.V. Sugunan and"Problems from silting in reservoirs ­an overview" presented by Shri P. Ray.Shri V.K. Bali presented a paper on"Possibility of incorporating commoncarp-calbasu hybrid into the reservoirfisheries" and Shri A.B. Mukherjeetalked on the "Design of wave dissipatingstructures for protection of floating netcages".

Prof. Saxena highlighted the hugeproduction potential available in thereservoir fisheries sector and hesuggested a speedy implementation ofInland Fisheries Bill 1986. He alsosuggested a Rese rvoir FisheriesDevelopment Agency on the lines ofFFDAs. Dr. Pathak's paper viewed thewhole gamut of reservoir fisheries froma banker's perspective. He expressedthe view that all the technologicaldevelopment made in the reservoirfisheries should be integrated intoprojects so. that financing agencies likeNABARD can contribute their mite in thespeedy development of reservoirfisheries in the country. He identifiedthe multiplicity of agencies owning thereservoirs, lack of uniformity in thepost-harvest and marketing

.--"arrangements and the lack of scientific

management as some of the constraintsin this field. He also emphasised theneed for long-term leasing of waterbodies and quantitying the targets forproduction which would enable thefunding agencies to guage thedevelopment process.

Shri S. Paul talked on the need todevelop imaginative developmentalpolicies for reservoirs wl:1ich areeconomically sound, ecologicallysensible and socially justifiable. Basedon the observations covering 20 Indianreservoirs, he found that theremunerativeness of fishery operationsin reservoirs not only depended on theproductivity but also on the post­harvest arrangements and the royaltysystem prevelent among the states. Hewas of the view that the social benefitsaccrued to the society should also betaken into consideration when return oninvestment is calculated. Shri P. Raynarrated how the siltation rate in someof the Indian reservoirs exceeded 3-4times the rate originally envisagedwhile conceiving the project.Sometimes the siltation has been foundto be 16 times what the engineersforetold. Consequently, the life span ofthe lakes reduced from 21 % inTungabhadra to 77% in Mayurakshi. Healso correlated the siltation rate withbiomass and fish production.

Shri V.K. Bali's claim ofproducing 50,000 cross-fertilised ovaand 20,000 hatchlings out of thehybridization between common carp andcalbasu evoked an animated discussion.Some scientists were of the view that theso-called hybrids could be, in fact,gynogenetic progeny, as the two fisheshave different chromosome numbers.

Shri A.B. Mukherjee presentedan overview of the information availableon the water thrust parameters likewave spectrum, wave length, waveperiod and wind velocity. Theseinformation, according to Mr.Mukherjee, can be utilized whiledesigning cages for Indian reservoirs.

The Chairman expressed the viewthat no reservoir as a unit can sustain afull-fledged processing and marketingsystem. He suggested networking of achain of reservoirs into a processing andmarketing system. He was highlyoptimistic about the proposed ReservoirFisheries Development Agency (RFDA).Dr. Kuldip Kumar stressed the need forconservation of fish faunistic resourcesof the country. He also expressed theview that the State Governments shouldrestrict themselves to the developmentalactivities, as they are ill-equipped tomanage the marketing systems.

A view of

the audience

This session was chaired by Dr.S.C. Pathak, Manager, NABARD; Prof.S.K. Konar, University of Kalyani beingthe co-chairman. Shri M.N. Venugopal,Asst. Professor, College of Fisheries,Mangalore was the rapporteur. Eightpapers were presented in this sessionviz., 'Need for avoiding exoticgermplasm in reservoirs' by P. Das,'Electrophoretic analysis of surfacemucus in three species of Indian majorcarps' by B.K. Padhi and A.R. KhudaBuksh, 'Comparative study of esterasesof fishes of Manair reservoir and thoseof local tanks of Warrangal district' byT.M. Reddy and V. Lakshmipathi,'Reservoir Fisheries - present status inthe North-Eastern Region' by M. Sinha,'Fisheries of Freshwater river prawn,M. malcolmsonii in Indian reservoir bySk. M. Jamil Ahmed, 'Management ofcomplex pollutional problems of Indianreservoirs to increase fish yield' by S.K.Konar and others, 'Water Pollutionproblems in Indian reservoirs' by H.C.Joshi, and 'Man-made ecologicaldeterioration in Panchet reservoir,Bihar' by R.K. Banerjee and AshokMukherjee.

II. Conservation, Genetics andEnvironmental Management

number of reservoirs and many moreare being constructed. But none of themhas adopted scientific managementnorms.

Ms. Mitali Oey presents her paper

Dr. P. Das highlighted thepossible adverse effects of theintroduction of exotic fishes in thecountry. He was of the view that theindigenous species were superior to theexotic varieties in all respects andtherefore he did not find any merit inintroducing species like silver carp,tilapia and common carp into Indianreservoirs. However, other viewpointswere also expressed on the subject.Prof. Shetty advocated an open mind onthe issue and he wanted the experts toreview the present stand on introductionof exotic species. Dr. M. Sinha pointedout that the North Eastern region has a

Shri Sk. M. Jamil Ahmeddescribed how the giant freshwaterprawn constituted a sustained fishery insome of the "Indian reservoirs. Afterbeing trapped into the reservoirs due toobstruction of its migratory pat~ways,the prawn got adapted to lenticconditions and survived in the lakes.'Adverse effects of industrial effluentsand pesticides on the environment andbiotic communities of the reservoirecosystem' have been presented by Mr.T.K. Ghosh and Ms. M. Dey. Similar casestudies in Byramangala and Panchetreservoirs were presented by Dr. H.C.Joshi and Dr. R.K. Banerjeerespectively.

III. Fisheries ofReservoirs

The third session, Fisheries ofReservoirs - case stupies from regionswas chaired by Dr. Y.R. Tripathi, Ex­Director of Fisheries, Govt. of UttarPradesh with Dr. B.S. Saxena as the Co­chairman. Dr. Y. S. Yadava, Sr.Scientist, CICFRI, Barrackpore acted asthe rapporteur. Thirteen researchpapers were presented in the session.

The first paper Fishery inVallabhasagar reservoir, Ukai - a casestudy was presented by Shri A. Magotia.The paper discussed the salient featuresof Vallabhasagar reservoir and thedevelopmental measures to enhance itsfish yield.

Dr. B.N. Saigal in his paperSignificance of pre-impoundmentsurvey in rivers with special referenceto Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmadaoutlined the ecological consequences ofthe proposed 10 Dams on the main riverand c. 19 Dams on the tributaries of theNarmada river system. The pre­impoundment studies covered c. 180 kmstretch of the River Narmada andsignificant differences in the hydro­dynamical, ecological and faunisticfeatures were highlighted.

The paper Present status offisheries of Hirakud reservoir, Orissaand strategy for enhancing yield andbetterment of the fishermencommunities presented by ShriSirajuddin Khan described, in detail,various aspects of Hirakud fisheries andoutlined the techno-administrativestrategies for its - development.

Shri M.T. Bhartiya presented thepaper Management of reservoirfisheries through fishermencooperatives in Maharashtraconstraints and measures. The paperdiscussed the present practices,

developmental constraints and measuresfor optimising fish production fromreservoirs in Maharashtra.

Prof. H.P.c. Shetty

The paper Assessment ofoptimum fish yields from reservoirs inTamil Nadu was presented by Ms.. G.Prabhavathy. Using time series data oncatch and effort, she described optimumyield from 4 reservoirs and 1 lake inTamil Nadu.

Dr. J. Daniel Jameson in hispaper Studie's on the competitive growthand production of carps in an irrigationtank discussed the relative growth ofcarps in a seasonal irrigation reservoirin Tamil Nadu.

The paper Man age men ttechniques adopted for achieving arecord yield from Aliyar reservoirTamil Nadu by Shri C. Selvaraj outlinedthe success story of application ofscientific management measures forenhancing the fish production fromAliyar reservoir. Consequent to theadoption of such measures, a record fish

yileld of 167.22 kg ha-1yr-1 wasobtained from the reservoir during1988-89. Dr. P.M. Mathew in his paperReservoir fisheries in Kerala - anapproach for management gave adetailed account of the reservoirresources of Kerala and the strategiesfor their development.

The paper, Maximum sustainableand economic yields of fish fromreservoirs in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradeshand Gujarat by M. Devarajand P.K.Goswami was presented by Dr. J. DanielJameson. Based on surplus productionmodel, MSy, fmsy, MEY and Fmey wereestimated for fisheries of certainreservoirs in northwestern India.

The paper Molluscs from aeutrophic reservoir Khandia inJhalawar (Rajasthan) presented by Dr.S.N. Gupta described the systematics,morphometric characteristics andecological significance of molluscs fromthis reservoir. Dr. M. Babu Rao in hispaper Effect of eutrophication on thebiology of fishes in Hussainsagar - acase study said that the fast pace ofeutrophication in Hussainsagar hadthreatened the existence of the reservoirwhich. was constructed in 1542 forwater supply.

In his paper A note on thelength-weight relationship of Puntiuskolus (sykes) from Bhatghar reservoir,Maharashtra Shri P.L.N. Rao discussedthe well-being of fish as observedthrough the length-weight relationshipvis-a-vis ecology and fish fauna of thereservoir. The last paper, Preliminary

.observation on the fishery potential ofNasik district in Maharashtra withspecial reference to Girna Damreservoir fisheries was presented byShri M.A. Khalid. The paper, besidessuggesting improvement of thereservoir fishery, analysed the fishcatch and highlighted the efficiency ofvarious gears used in the reservoir.

The chairman in his concludingremarks desired collection ofcomparative data on regional basis, ifnot on all India basis. The lristituteswere urged to undertake long-termstudies on reservoir ecosystems to fillthe existing lacunae.

The fourth session entitled,Reservoir limnology and trophiclevels was chaired by Dr. Arun G.Jhingran with Dr. K. K. Vass, PrincipalScientist, CICFRI, Barrackpore as theRapporteur. The paper, Energy flowwith perspective to fish production inNanak Sagar reservoir (U.P.) India, byC. S. Singh, A. P. Sharma and B. P.Deorari was presented by the seniorauthor. The paper was an attempt towork out energy flow pattern in thereservoir, highlighting the prevailinglow conversion efficiency in theimpoundment and the need to increase it.Dr. K. S. Rao and Ms. Usha Choubeypresented a paper, Studies onphytoplankton dynamics andproductivity fluctuations in Gandhisagarreservoir. The authors attempt~d topresent various parameters of algaldynamics in relation to carbon fixation.The authors opined that temperaturewas the prime factor controlling thephytoplankton behaviour.

The Chairman while summing upthe session underscored the need toelucidate energy pathways in clear-cutte}ms to make the managementstrategies effective and production­oriented.

PLENARY SESSION

The Plenary Session was chaired by Prof. H.P.C. Shetty and Shri RP. Tuli was the Co­Chairman. The Session considered. at length, all the suggestions emerged from variousTechnical Sessions and formulated a set of recommendations as follows :

The present status ojreservoir Jisheries development in thecountry has been considered in detail, basedon the material presented by severalscientists in various sessions. The

Workshop has made the Jollowingrecommendations :

1. It has been emphasizedthat a meaningful and development-orientedstrategy. should be Jormulated Jor thedevelopment oj reservoir fisheries during theVIII Plan period. In this context it isrecommended that an integratedorganizational structure should be set up Jorthe purpose oj reservoir Jisheriesdevelopment in the various states. This maybe set up in the Jorm oj Reservoir FisheriesDevelopment Agencies. Initially, theseagencies should be set up to undertake thedevelopmental work on pre-determinedlines to cover selected reservoirs havingvarying characteristics. Each oj theseagencies should have a managementcommittee oj experts and connectedadministrators Jor coordinating andinitiating effective development strategies.While agencies might be set up in the centralsector, they could be made parts oj thecentrally sponsored schemes Jorsubstantial financial assistance flowingfrom the centre. The management pattern ojthese agencies, which could be broadly onthe pattern oj Fish Farmers' DevelopmentAgencies, should take into account thespecial characteristics oj t~

reservoirs and their fisheries development.In working out the detailed pattern oj thetechnical and managerial staff set up, Jor thesupervision and control oj the activities, theresponsibilities oj the agencies shouldinclude setting up oj Jarms Jor the purpose ojstocking the reservoirs to ensure thedevelopment oj an enduring fishery thatwould provide maximum sustainable yield.

2 It is Jurther recommended by theWorkshop that at the state level thereshould be management committees to laydown the policies and to coordinate theworking oj the various developmentalagencies in the states. Likewise, at thecentral level too, a committee may be set upto review the working oj the agencies invarious states and to recommend measures

Jor the improvement in the working oj thedevelopmental systems from time to time.The fX?velopment

Commissioner / Agricultural ProductionCommissioner may be the Chairman oj thestate level reservoir committee with theheads oj user-departments being themembers. So Jar as the managementcommittee is concerned, it is recommendedthat the Chairman may be the Director ojFisheries.

3. In the case oj inter-state reservoirs,the Workshop has recommended that acoordination committee with the

Development Commissioners and therepresentatives oj the major user­departments (e.g., irrigation, powergeneration, flood control,fisheries, pollutionboard, etc.) may be set up to review theprogress Jrom time to time. It is Jurtherrecommended that DevelopmentCommissioners, in whose states the majorreservoirs Jall, may be the Chairmen oj thecommittee.

4. The Workshop has come to theconclusion that each oj the reservoirs maynot be having units to set up Julljledgedmarketing infrastructure. At the same time,it is realized that the Department ojFisheries may not be a suitable agency toundertake wholesale or retail marketingwork as such. Realizing the need to have aproper marketing inJrastructure, so as toensure adequate returns to the producersand to make fish available to the consumersat a reasonable price, it is recommendedthat a viable infrastructure Jacility coveringa Jew area may be set up Jor wholesale aswell as retail marketing oj fish. Each areamay cover a Jew states taking intoconsideration the routes oj movement oj fishJrom various reservoirs to central pointswhere cold/freezing Jacilities are available.As a long-term policy, it is also Jelt that inthe event oj nation-wide marketing network,the supply oj marine fish Jromvariouscoastal centres to the central place beensured.

5. It is Jelt that the existing Jishmarketing ventures should suitably bestrengthened to undertake marketing workkeeping in view the need Jor integratingthese in course oj time with a national~etwork Jor the marketing oj fish. Wheremarketing organizations do not exist, thesemay be set up Jor the main pupose ojproviding inJrastructural.Jacilities Jor thesupply oj fish to the markets. It is also

recommended that without Jormulation ojendurable system oj marketing fish, nothingshould be done in a haste and normalmarketingJacilities should be allowed.

6. It is recommended that the .railwaysmay be prevailed upon by the Ministry ojAgriculture to provide refrigerated-bogiesonall important routes on priority basis, with aview to connecting a cluster oj reservoirswith main marketing centres, Jortransportation oj fish. The charges Jortransportation oj fish should be at theconcessional rate and at par with theagriculturalproducts.

Z It is recommended that,. onexperimental basis, the development ojfisheries in selected reservoirs may beentrusted to the private sectors on areasonably long-term basis. With reJerenceto the experiences gained in this respect,such schemes may be suitable in course ojtime.

8. It is recommended that the StateFisheries Departments, in consultation withthe CICFRI, may select' suitable spots inreservoirs Jor location oj cages/pens whichmay be recommended to the FisheriesDevelopment Agencies/ Fishermens'Cooperative Societies Jor operation. In thisconnection, it is further recommended thatthe private agencies may be encouraged toimport Jull-fledged cage systems Jromabroad, in a joint venture with the technicalguidance from the CICFRI,Jor operation inthe selected reservoirs. It is Jelt that withthe experiences gained in such operations, aproject can be Jormulated Jor thedevelopment oj fisheries in the reservoirs inpens/cages. SPecies that may be developedand the Jeed to be utilized may be decidedafter careful consideration. The cages maybe utilizedJor raising both table fish and/orstocking material.

9. Introduction oj commerciallyimportant exotic species may be allowedonly in confined aquacultural systems andcautioUs approach be made regarding theirstocking in open systems.

10. Concerted efforts may be made byall developmental agencies and researchinstitutes on scientific lines.

11. In the areas, such as N.E. region,where there is a plan to construct a numberoj new reservoirs, necessary cautions maybe taken by the concerned authorities tocarry out preimpoundment surveys so as tobe able to Jormulate developmentalstrategies in these reservoirs keeping inview the imperative need Jor maintainingecological balance.

12. The studies on breeding andbehavioural aspects oj Macrobrachiummalcolmsonii and other freshwater prawn

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species may be undertaken by researchorganizations Jor developing prawn fisheryin open waters.

13. The State Directors of Fisheries may be

made members of the Environmental and

Pollution Boards of the country.

14. In order to check silting and pollution

in reservoirs, interim/long-term measures like

configuration of earth and development of

forestry on sites, and suitable engineering

devices and strict enforcement of laws for

mitigation of pollution may be taken up in the

ecosystems.

15. The AFSIB may organize a special

workshop on pollution of ecosystem-its hazardsand remedies.

V.V. Sugunan and Y.S. Yadava

H. Chaklader

Arun G. Jhingran, Director, CICFRI.

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