Organic Fish Farming: Sustaining Interest Of Humans
The importance of Fish farming is on rise over the years with about 80-85% of the global population being non-vegetarian and the per capita fish consumption rising to 21.3kg from 9.9kg since 1960s. India is the second largest producer (6% contribution globally) of fish in the world with its 2.36 million ha of ponds and tanks, 0.798 million ha of flood plain and lakes, 2.907 million ha of reservoirs and over 6 million ha of land for inland aquaculture. About 65% of Indian fish production is from the in-land sector. India, also being the world's 6th largest Exporter of fish, aims to increase export of fish and fishery products by more than 50% in value terms to reach Rs 1 lakh crore every year in the next five years from the current Rs 45,000 crore.
Given the huge demand, the conventional fishing practices are often exposed to various regimes of medication in order to improve the growth and performance of the reared fishes and prevent diseases. The Hormones are used in fish farming to increase fish production while the antibiotics are used to treat & prevent diseases caused by bacteria. The hormones & antibiotics traces in fishes eventually create an adverse effects on human health and aquatic biodiversity leading to aquatic pollution, environmental degradation, water abstraction and the destruction of water habitats. Also for the exports the fish production requires to be free from the hormones and antibiotics.
As a solution to these harmful conventional practices, using Organic Fish Farming Products for aquaculture ensures healthy, disease-free fish production without the use of antibiotics, hormones, and synthetic chemicals. This Organic Practice of Aquaculture also helps in augmenting the ecosystem, soil fertility and biological activities to better the quality of yield and provide better quality food.
There are organic nutritional products available for aquaculture to ensure optimum reproduction, health and growth of the fishes. The fish nutrition includes micronutrients (mineral and vitamins) and macronutrients (protein, lipid and carbohydrate). Vitamins are required for the normal growth and maintenance of cells and organs. Minerals, often referred as ultra-trace elements, are required for proper metabolism in fishes. Proteins are a vital source of energy for fish diet & are required in adequate amounts for holistic growth of the fish. Lipids essentially serve as fatty acid source and play vital role as transporters of soluble fats.
In short, the organic aquaculture practices will not only serve humans the healthy fish but will also provide a sustainable solution to the environmental challenges led by increased demand for fish production.
