1.
PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS IN
MARINE ORNAMENTAL
AQUACULTURE: INDIAN PERSPECTIVE
Prepared by
Sachin sahu
AQC-MA5-12
Batch- 2015-17
M.F.Sc. 2nd yr 4th Semester
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education
(University Under Section 3 of UGC Act-1956)
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Versova, Mumbai-400061
Credit Seminar
on

2.
Introduction
• Aquaculture is one of the billion dollar firms in recent past, which is
ensuring the food security and livelihood of millions of people all
over the world.
• Domestication of marine ornamentals is gaining popularity in
several countries, because of the rise of home and public aquaria.
• Aquarium fishes are selling at an average of US$ 248 per pound
compared to food fishes at an average of US$ 3 per pound
(NOAA,2011).
• Whittington (2007) said that over 100 countries are involved in the
trade constitute with 37% tropical freshwater fish, 28% coldwater
fish, 16% marine fish, 8% coral and 11% other invertebrates.

3.
Overview of marine ornamental Aquaculture
• Total ornamental fishes used in aquarium keeping, 10 to 15 % constitute
marine spp. and rest from fresh and brackish water (Tissera, 2010).
• According to Gopakumar (2010) 1.5 to 2 million people are engaged in
marine aquarium keeping either for recreation or livelihood.
• Annually, 20 to 24 million people are involved in the international trade
with an estimate of 1,471 marine fish spp., and only 30-40 sp. are
domesticated and rest from capture fishery.(Wabnitz et al., 2003; Ajit
Kumar et al., 2012).
• According to Bruckner (2005), more than 45 countries supply marine
fishes to the global market.
• Total value of marine ornamental fish trade was USD 200-300 million per
year (Gopakumar, 2010a).

4.
Prospects of the sector
• India is endowed with rich marine ornamental resources from Gulf of Mannar,
Gulf of Kutch, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
• Indian fisheries comprise of more than 350 ornamental fishes and contribute
24% of the total fish species in trade (Ajithkumar and Balamurugan,2016).
• Recent advancements in scientific technologies and husbandry equipments
make this system ease at any corner.
• Many innovative research programmes such as selective breeding, colour
enhancement, SPF broodstocks, Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) has
helped to pull out the technologies commercially.
• Agencies like National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and Marine
Products Exports and Development Authority (MPEDA) are providing subsidies
for developing ornamental fish hatcheries to support entrepreneurs.

5.
Angelfish
AngelfishButterfly fish
Clownfish Cardinalfish
Goby Azure damselDartfish

6.
Constraints in domestication
 Adequate supply of- Quality brooders with reasonable price.
 Complex pattern of sex changes.
 Sexual dimorphism and larval rearing(Gopakumar,2005).
 Unknown biology and behaviours (Ajihtkumar et al., 2010;Gopakumar,2010).
 Unclear:- Selection species, nutritional supplements,
Feeding regime, feeding schedule of broodstocks and
larval, water quality parameters.

7.
ContD.
 Lack of successful induced breeding activities, poor egg quality and
quantity, lower hatch rate.
 Availability in the coral reef ecosystem.
 Inadequate literatures of new species.
 Disease outbreaks during unhealthy practices.
 Usage of banned antibiotics and toxic chemicals.
 Some species and their status must be under the permissible limit of
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

8.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
• Inequitable profit distribution between importers and exporters reflects
imbalance between each other, which favors the importers (Whittington
et al., 2007; Dykman,2012).
• Collectors increase their catch and use destructive fishing practices cause
long term damage to the environment(Whittington,2000).
• Collectors due to the low price they increase their catch, often by using
unsustainable or harmful fishing methods, ultimately causing long-term
damage to the environment and the industry.

9.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
 Lack adequate resources and mechanisms for reef conservation in developing
countries.
 Globally 25% of coral reefs already died and 30% are under serious threat (Best
and Bornbusch,2001).
 Global warming and ocean acidification causes unrestricted pressure on the
coral reef ecosystem.
 Top ten aquarium fish species has decreased by 59% over the last 20 years
(Moore and Best,2001).
 Trade is also highly mobile is another characteristic that is conducive to
environmental degradation
 Exporting countries, which often lack the “institutional or financial capacity” to
mitigate the damage to coral reefs.

10.
Conservation & eco-friendly fishing practices
• The rising trade and high demand, overexploitation of valuable resources and
destructive fishing practices lead to the risk of bio-resource depletion.
• Domestication of resources and regulated fishing practices are being
alternative to alleviate the pressure on reefs(Pomery et al. 2006).
• Sustainable management plans by enforcing code of conduct (Moore and Best,
2001).
• Marine stewardship council (MSC) and Marine Aquarium Council (MAC)
initiated certification program to promote legal and safer fishing and for
sustainable fisheries (Potts and Haward, 2005; Moore and Best, 2001).
• In India certification system launched by MPEDA to regulate and better marine
ornamental trade.

11.
Recommendations
• Establishment of marine reserves to preserve stocks for the maintenance of
biodiversity.
• Implementation of clerical trade combined with sustainable wild catch, quota
system have to be followed with the proper support from the government.
• Establishment of a national centre for ornamental aquaculture or ornamental
aqua park can help get more captive propagation technologies for various
species.
• Establishment of a national quarantine facility for ornamental organisms to
combat invasive parasites and it will help in stop the entry of exotics.
• Establishment of live gene bank for the prioritized marine ornamental
organisms will help in conserve these genetic resources.

12.
Conclusion
• The historic rise in trade of marine ornamental fish and aquarium
supplies around the globe is ensuring sustainable income generation,
livelihood and more foreign exchange of a country. Sustainable firm will
be a good income generator to coastal communities, small
entrepreneurs.
At this point, further research programmes are looked-for
developing breeding technology of demandable species with the aid of
new scientific technologies. Setting-up of Backyard hatcheries,
Ornamental Aqua Parks and Marine Ornamental Villages would helpful
in promoting this sector and also open local employment and livelihood.

13.
References
• Ajith Kumar, T. T., J. Balamurugan, and T. Balasubramanian, 2012. Aquatic
resources for eradicating hunger and malnutrition-opportunities and
challenges, Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch. Manglore, India, 171-176.
• Ajithkumar, T.T., V. Gunasundari, P. Murugesan, and T. Balasubramanian.2010.
backyard hatchery for clownfish: A measure towards promoting marine
ornamental fish export from India. In: (Eds. Kurup et. Al) Souvenier,
Ornamentals Kerala. Dept. Of Fisheries, Govt. Of Kerala, 67-73.
• Dykman, M. 2012. The environmental and economic benefits of eco-
certification within the ornamental fish trade. International journal of trade,
economics and finance.. 3:1-6.
• Gopakumar, G. 2005. Marine Ornamental Fish Culture Status, Constraints and
Potential. Proceedings of Ocean Life Food & Medicine Expo. Chennai, 347-359.
• Moore, F. And B. Best. 2001. Coral reef crisis: causes and consequences. Annual
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, San
Francisco, California.
• MPEDA, 2014. http://www.mpeda.com [ Assessed on 12-06-2017]
• NOAA, 2011. Marine aquarium trade, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, US Department of Commerce.

14.
CONTD.
• Pomeroy, R.S.,J.E. Parks and C.M. Balboa. 2006. farming the reef: is
aquaculture a solution for reducing fishing pressure on coral reef? Marine
Policy 30:111-130.
• Potts, T. And M. Harward. 2005. International trade, eco-labeling, and
sustainable fisheries-recent issues, concepts and practices. Environment,
development and Sustainability 9:629-630.
• Silas, E.G., A. Gopalkrishna, A., Ramachandran, T.V. Anna Mercy, Kripan sarkar,
K.R. Pushpagandan, P. Anil Kumar, M.K. Ram mohan and K.K Anikuttan. 2011.
Guidelines for green certification of freshwater ornamental fish, MPEDA,
Kochi, Kerala.
• Thomas, k.2010. Interventions in the Indian ornamental fishes in the by-catch
of Ponnami fishing harbor, Kerala. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 51(1): 69-73.
• Wabnitz, C., M., Taylor, E., Green and T., Razak. 2003. From Ocean to Aquarium.
UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, U.K.64.
• Whittington, m., M.A.M. Pereira, M. Gonalves and A.Costa. 2000. An
investigation of the ornamental fish trade in mozambique. Report for the
Coastal Management Unit, MICOA.