| Sumario: | Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIS) have historically been undervalued in the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) despite their high nutritional value, ecological importance, and livelihood contributions. Emerging evidence demonstrates that SIS play a critical role in enhancing pond productivity, nutrient cycling, and household food security, especially for low-income and wetland-dependent communities. The study underscores targeted policy support, capacity-building, financial access to scale production, and access to quality seeds for small farmers to adapt and rejuvenate SIS cultivation.
Market assessments reveal strong and growing consumer demand for SIS, driven by superior taste and high micronutrient content, with wholesalers and retailers indicating readiness to expand trade. Technical assessments show that induced breeding of key indigenous catfishes is feasible under controlled hatchery conditions, provided water quality management, feed regulation, and brooder health are maintained. Strengthening hatchery infrastructure and farmer training is essential to improve seed availability, particularly given the current dependence on natural breeding.
Production trials conducted under ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute’s guidance confirm that species such as Shingi, Magur, Tengra, Punti, and Bata perform well in semi-intensive systems in nutrient-rich, shallow ponds. Polyculture models enhance ecological balance and productivity, typically yielding 200–400 kg/ha depending on stocking density, culture duration, and fish size.
A SWOT assessment identifies strong market demand, low culture costs, and species resilience as key strengths; limited technical knowledge, seed scarcity, and harvesting difficulties as major weaknesses; and opportunities in species-specific protocols, hatchery development, and polyculture diversification. Threats include habitat degradation, siltation, invasive species, disease prevalence, poor water quality, and irregular sewage inflows.
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