Culture‐based fisheries in non‐perennial reservoirs in Sri Lanka: production and relative performance of stocked species

Abstract

Abstract In Sri Lanka, there is a great potential for the development of culture‐based fisheries because of the availability of around 12 000 non‐perennial reservoirs in the dry zone (<187 cm annual rainfall) of the island. These reservoirs fill during the north‐east monsoonal period in October to December and almost completely dry up during August to October. As these non‐perennial reservoirs are highly productive, hatchery‐reared fish fingerlings can be stocked to develop culture‐based fisheries during the water retention period of 7–9 months. The present study was conducted in 32 non‐perennial reservoirs in five administrative districts in Sri Lanka. These reservoirs were stocked with fingerlings of Indian (catla Catla catla Hamilton and rohu Labeo rohita Hamilton) and Chinese (bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis Richardson) major carps, common carp Cyprinus carpio L., genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and post‐larvae of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii De Man, at three different species combinations and overall stocking densities (SD) ranging from 218 to 3902 fingerlings ha−1, during the 2002–2003 culture cycle. Of the 32 reservoirs stocked, reliable data on harvest were obtained from 25 reservoirs. Fish yield ranged from 53 to 1801 kg ha−1 and the yields of non‐perennial reservoirs in southern region were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in the northern region. Naturally‐recruited snakehead species contributed the catches in northern reservoirs. Fish yield was curvilinearly related to reservoir area (P < 0.05), and a negative second order relationship was evident between SD and yield (P < 0.05). Chlorophyll‐a and fish yield exhibited a positive second order relationship (P < 0.01). Bighead carp yield impacted positively on the total yield (P < 0.05), whereas snakehead yield impact was negative. Bighead carp, common carp and rohu appear suitable for poly‐culture in non‐perennial reservoirs. GIFT strain O. niloticus had the lowest specific growth rate among stocked species and freshwater prawn had a low return.