This document provides information on the Fish Nutrition and Physiology Division of CIFA (Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture) in India. It outlines the division's mandate, thrust areas, achievements, facilities, and technologies. The division's mandate is basic and strategic research to develop feeds for freshwater fish. Its thrust areas include developing regional feed databases, studying amino acid and vitamin requirements, and optimizing non-conventional feed resources. Achievements include developing feeds for popular cultured species and evaluating agricultural byproducts as ingredients. The division offers feed testing and digestibility testing services and has developed several commercial fish feed products.

1. CIFA Findings for Freshwater
Aquaculture in India
Bhukya Bhaskar
FiSheries Resouce Management
Aquaculture

2. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY
DIVISION
• Mandate:
• Basic and strategic research to develop feed for
various life stages of Freshwater fishes.
• Human Resource Development through training,
education and extension.

3. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY DIVISION
• Thrust areas:
• Development of database on regional specific feedstuff and seasonal variation
in nutrient composition of feedstuff
• Study on essential amino acid and vitamin requirement of freshwater fishes
• Accurate quantitative requirements for essential fatty acid particularly during
larval development and maturing brood stock
• Feeding protocol and feed quality standards for diversified species
• Nutrient and energy budget in fed fish culture
• Optimization of inclusion level of non-conventional feed resources in fish feed
• Nutrient-gene interaction studies in fish
• Feed additive for promotion of productivity and growth in freshwater
aquaculture
• Neuropeptide regulation of reproduction in fishes
• Climate change on reproductive physiology in fishes
• Development of finisher diets for fish
• Development of appropriate feed processing technology for improving the feed
and nutrient use efficiency.
• Microbial nutrition
• Nutraceuticals and functional food aids

4. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY DIVISION:
• Salient achievements:
• Development of feeds for Pangas larval and grow-out stages
• Development of larval diet for Magur
• Development feeding strategy for carp culture based on the compensatory growth
phenomenon of fish
• Improving the protein use efficiency of carp diet by feeding the fish at sub-
optimum and optimum protein levels and utilizing the protein sparing effect of
carbohydrate
• Up to 30-40 % of Mohua oil cake can be incorporated in carp feed without
hampering growth and can produce the cost effective diet
• Farm-made feed demonstration, training and awareness programmes conducted in
Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh under outreach programme on fish feed
• Antioxidant activities of some aquatic plants are assayed and evaluated in fish feed
• Determination of optimum protein requirement of Puntius carnaticus
• Dietary protein, lipid and carbohydrate requirement of bata and dietary protein
and lipid requirement was worked out for Ompok pabda
• Agro industrial wastes viz., dried distiller’s grain soluble, breweries waste and ghee
residue was evaluated as feed ingredients for Indian Major Carp
• Different plant attractants was evaluated for Indian Major Carp and Ompok Pabda.
• Nutrient Profile was worked out for Rohu (Labeo rohita), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala),
Catla (Catla catla), Koi (Anabas testudineus), Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis) and
Magur (Clarias batrachus.

5. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY DIVISION; Salient achievements:
• Rain tree pod (Samaneasaman), Mast tree seed, (Pollyalthealongifolia),
Indian doomba seed or polanga (Calophyluminnophylum) and Mohua oil
cake(Brasialatifolia) were evaluated as the nonconventional fish feed
ingredients
• Developed a protocols to incorporate raintree pod as a non-conventional
ingredient in carp feed and prepared mash, sinking pellet and floating pellet
with rain tree pod as major ingredient
• Evaluated feed with rain tree pod, partially replacing the ground not oil
cake in pond culture of Indian major carps
• Mohua oil cake has been identified as growth promoter in carp feed
• Developed a FRP brood care unit and Ferro-cement brood rearing system
• Enrichment of fish fillet with EPA and DHA through dietary intervention
• The interactive influence of the proteins sources and their lipid component
over the amylase activity in releasing maltose and thereby glucose, the
ultimate energy source for the fish, from different carbohydrate sources
was deduced
• Selection of soybean meal as the plant protein source and fishmeal as the
animal protein source in the feed may overcome the visceral fat formation
in the fish when rice bran is used as the carbohydrate source

6. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY DIVISION
• A feed was developed for promotion of maturity in pulchellus females and
males.
• Macronutrient requirement for carnaticus fingerlings was worked out.
• Developed a floating feed frame and its operation procedure to reduce the
loss of floating feed and its easy operation.
• Developed an “e-learning module on carp feed” for student, researchers,
teachers and farmers in freshwater aquaculture sector
• A feed was developed for pulchellus fry and fingerlings with very good
acceptability
• Gonadal maturation and breeding of rohu during all quarter of the year
• Double breeding of rohu during off-season
• Understanding the role of kissspeptin in carp reproduction
• GnRH: molecular characterization and its role in photo-thermal induced
gonadal development in Indian major carp
• Studied the role of gonadotropin and its receptors during photothermal
manipulation of reproduction in rohu

7. FISH NUTRITION AND PHYSIOLOGY DIVISION
• Service offered:
• Proximate composition of final products and feed
ingredients
• Infrastructure/units
• Feed testing laboratory
• Digestibility lab
• Indoor experimental unit
• Outdoor experimental ponds
• Climatology laboratory
• Feed mill

8. Technology/product/publication
• Technology/product/publication
• Products
• Starter M (Magur larval feed)
• Starter Pangas (Pangas larval feed)
• Pangas grow-I (Pangas fry feed)
• Pangas grow-II ( Pangas fingerling feed)
• Pangas grow-out floating feed with 30% CP
• GRAM-CA-FEED ( Grow-out farm-made feed for carp)
• Carp nursery (fry) feed
• Floating carp feeds with low-cost local ingredients (Til oil cake and
mustard oil cake)
• Floating carp feeds with non-conventional ingredients like rain tree pod
• Fish feed incorporating linseed sludge (oil mill waste)
• Fish Feed Standards for BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)

9. FISH HEALTH MANAGEMENT DIVISION
• DIVISIONAL OBJECTIVES
To conduct basic, strategic and applied
research on freshwater fish diseases, their
diagnosis & control
• To enhance aquaculture productivity through
application of environment friendly
microorganisms
• To provide training and consultancy service on
fish health management in aquaculture

10. • LABORATORY FACILITIES:
• Bacteriology Lab.
• Immunodiagnostics lab.
• Molecular Diagnostics Lab.
• Environmental Microbiology Lab
• Pathology Lab.
• Immunology Lab.
• Mycology & Parasitology lab.
• Probiotics lab.
• Histopathology Lab.
• Cell Culture Lab.

11. • IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES OF THE DIVISION:
• Monitoring national fish disease outbreaks and serological screening of
diseases
• Development of vaccine using molecular techniques
• Molecular characterization of important bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi
• Application of probiotics in aquaculture
• Immunity and immunomodulation in fish
• Maternal immunity in craps and their role in seed survival
• Standardization of cell culture of Carps
• Repository of pathogenic bacteria and immuno diagnostic reagents
• Isolation and characterization of bacteria associated with nutrient cycles and
bioremediation
• Biodiversity and identification of microorganisms important to aquaculture
• Nanotechnology in aquaculture

12. • BRIEF RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Molecular diagnostics for Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), Spring Vireamia of Carp (SVC) developed
• A. hydrophila Sub-unit vaccine using OMP-C & ABC transporter binding protein developed and now
under trial in carps
• Recombinant DNA Vaccine against Edwardsiella tarda : under trial.
• The recombinant RdRp protein of prawn Noda Virus (MrNV): anti-vial & immunostimulant in M.
rosenbergii
• Dot-ELISA & Spot agglutination kit for Edwardsiellosis, Aeromoniasis and Bacterial gill disease of
Indian major
carps.
• Synthesized Nano-particles viz. FeO, MgO, CuO, ZnO, Se, Al, Au, Ag and Ag-TiO2 : Antimicrobial,
immunomodulatory, growth promoting and water remediating activities evaluated.
• Role of TRLs in innate immunity in divergent fish species studied
• Allele mining of bacterial hsp60 & hsp70 genes and genotyping of bacterial isolates being carried
out.
• Lactic acid bacteria used as Probiotics in IMC found effective
• Effect of abiotic stressors on the physiological responses of Catla catla, Channa striatus and Clarias
batrachus, are being studied

13. • PATENT OBTAINED:
• Male-specific protein of Labeo rohita Ham. – A
key for sex differentiation and brood stock management.(P. Swain et al.,)
(Patent No. 252072, Date 24.04.2012)
• PATENT FILED:
• A Method of producing antibacterial extracts from freshwater algae, B.K.Das et al.,
• Application No. 749/KOL/2011.
• A process for differential sero-diagnosis of Gram-negative bacterial infections (P.
Swain et al., Patent application No. 1403/DEL/2003 dated 12/11/2003)
• A Competitive ELISA for diagnosis of microbial infections in Indian major carps. (P.
Swain et al., Patent application No. 1402/DEL/2003 dated 12/11/2003)
• Method for identification and differentiation of Argulus siamensis and A.
japonicus, (P.K. Sahoo et al., Patent application no. 1108/KOL/2013 dated
26.09.2013).

14. AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION
• Mandate
• Basic and strategic research for the
development of sustainable culture systems
for freshwater finfish and shellfish.
• Species and systems diversification in
freshwater aquaculture.
• Human Resource Development through
training, education and extension.

15. AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
• Thrust Areas:
• Species and system diversification in freshwater aquaculture.
• Captive broodstock development, induced breeding and culture of
indigenous freshwater finfishes and shellfishes
• Surrogate brood fish development.
• Stock upgradation of brood stock in carp hatcheries using
• Selective breeding of freshwater prawn
• Aquaculture system development (Aquaponics, Biofloc etc)
• Macro and micro nutrient budgeting of freshwater fish production
system.
• Aquatic environment management
• Water budget modelling of freshwater fish production system.
• Use of plastics in aquaculture
• Farm mechanization
• Dissemination of technologies to the farming community

16. • Salient Achievements:
• Captive breeding and seed production
• The Captive breeding and seed production technology for the
following species was developed
•
• Carp: Labeo fimbriatus, L. gonius, Puntius sarana. P.
pulchelus, and gonionotus, Osteobrama belangeri)
• Catfish: Rita chrysea,Clarias magur, Pangasius pangasius, Rita
chrysea, Ompok pabda, Horabagras brachysoma and Mystus
sp.
• Freshwater mussel:Lamellidens marginalis
• Air breathing fishes: Anabas testudineus, Channa striatus
• Ornamental fishes: Dawkinsia tamraparniei , Dawkinsia
filamentosa, Pethia narayani
• Freshwater prawn: Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

17. • Selective breeding
•
• First family based selective breeding programme was undertaken in freshwater prawn Macrobrachium
rosenbergii and produced nine generations of selectively bred prawn with good response.
• Shining barb ( Pethia conchonius) developed by mass selection method
•
• Grow-out Culture:
• Carp:
– Intercropping model for minor carps and barbs
– Intensive carp culture with production levels of 10-15 tonnes/ha/yr
• Catfish: Magur production of 2-3 t/ha/yr
• Air breathing fishes:
• Climbing perch production of 2.5 t/ha/yr.
• Ornamental fishes: Culture of indigenous ornamental fishes in captive condition
• Freshwater prawn: Semi-intensive culture with a production of 1to 1.5 tonnes /ha
•
• Technology for freshwater pearl production
• Developed technology for Designer pearl production as well as round pearls from freshwater
mussel Lamellidens marginalis
• Aquatic environment:
• Nutrient budget (C, N and P) for carp culture practices
• Carbon footprint and carbon sequestration for aquaculture systems
AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

18. • Patents
•
• Sl. No.
• Title
• Inventor(s)
• Date of patent grant
• 1
• A manually operated low cost handy cryofreezer for gamete cryopreservation.
• P. Routray, S.D. Gupta, S.C. Rath,
• N. Sarangi
• 16/02/2012
• 2
• Mechanical Pond applicator (design)
• P. C. Das, J. K. Jena, N. Sarangi, S. Ayyappan
• 12.5.2008
• 3
• Mechanical fish harvestor (design)
• K. K.Sharma, C.D.Sahoo, S.Chand, S.K.Nayak, B.Sarkar and N Sarangi
• 18.09.2015
AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

19. Technologies commercialized
• Name of the technology commercialized*
• Name of the public / private Agency
• Period**
• Revenue sharing Arrangement***
• Revenue earned / year (Institute Shared
• FRP Portable Carp Hatchery
• M. R. Aquatech, Bhubaneswar, Orissa
• 2006-2013#
• Exclusive
• 3,03,333/-
• + Royality
• 22/02/2013-2020
• (13,15000.00/-+Royality)

20. • FRP Magur Hatchery
• M. R. Aquatech, Bhubaneswar, Orissa
• 26/08/2008-2015
• Exclusive
• 4, 04,444/-
• ROSYBARB
• Dr Atul Kumar Jain, Director, Tropical Aquaculture & Farming Systems (India),
Udaipur-313001
• 29/08/2013-28/08/2015
• (2013-2015)
• Exclusive
• -
•
• *Public-private partnership initiatives.
• **Duration of arrangement
• ***One time payment, Exclusive right, Royality-basis, etc.
• # Second time Recommercialiszed for 7 years. With effect from 22th feb 2013.
•
• Technologies available for commercialization
•

21. • Technology / Know-how
• 1. Mobile fish vending trolly for hygienic fish marketing
• 2. Mechanical Pond applicator
• 3. cryofreezer for gamete cryopreservation
• 4. A diesel operated new aeration device for large aquaculture ponds
• 5. Mechanical fish harvester
• 6. Portable mini carp hatchery
• 7. Automatic fish feeder
• 8. FRP demand fish feeder
• 9. Boneless whole carp
• 10. Biofert and Planktofert
•
• Technology Transfer
• Created alternative livelihood through fish based farming system in tribal areas/ hamlets and NEH states
through TSP and NEH programme.
• Demonstration of cryo-milt utilization at different states of India (Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh)
• Improved aquaculture technologies were transferred to the farming community and various state
government officials through training programme, Radio and TV programmes.
•

22. Thanks for Ur TIme