Composite Fish Farming in West Bengal, India: Redesigning Management Practices during the Course of Last Five Decades

Abstract

Composite carp farming is a poly-species pond culture system in which three Indian major carps (IMC) ( Labeo catla , Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala ) are co-stocked with three exotic major carps ( Hypophthalmicthys molitrix , Ctenopharyngodon idella and Cyprinus carpio ). This system is a practical modification of the original three species IMC polyculture so as to fill the vacant niches in a pond ecosystem for optimizing internal resource utilization and thereby a means of increasing productivity. Such system was officially introduced during 1971 with standard management protocols and established as the mainstay in inland aquaculture practice in India. During the course of almost half a century, several alterations in every stages of management of composite carp culture have been made by the farmers solely guided by their experiences and acquired expertise through the ages which are proved economical. The present review discussed the alterations made by the farmers in composite farming based upon the findings recorded in two purposively selected districts (East Burdwan and 24 Pgs. (N) in West Bengal, India as the state is one of the highest producers of carps in the country.