Bangladesh tries to farm hilsa in ponds
By IANSThursday, May 13, 2010
DHAKA - Bangladesh is attempting to farm hilsa fish, the country’s most delectable foreign exchange earner, in ponds.
Researchers at Chandpur Fisheries Research Institute have taken to farming the hilsa in ponds, seeking to belie a common perception that hilsa fish can survive only in rivers.
Work has been on since 1988, but there was no breakthrough till now.
Chief Scientific Officer of the institute Anisur Rahman hopes to succeed this time, The Daily Star reported Thursday.
A 1.5-inch long newly born hilsa fish, also called fry, was released into a pond under the supervision of the institute.
Three ponds inside the institute have been readied for hilsa farming. A full-scale experimental rearing of hilsa in the ponds will begin this month.
The researchers said fishermen net 10,000 to 19,000 tonnes of fry a year.
Rahman said hilsa was being farmed in ponds as the existence of the fish is threatened by environmental pollution and climate change.
