Fish Farming in Nepal

Introduction to climatic features of Nepal:

Nepal is a country with rich water resource. The climate, altitude and geography of this great Himalayan
Nation are also diverse. The altitude ranges from 100 ft. to 29028ft. above sea level.

The temperature ranges from 0 to 40 degree Celsius.

The climate zones of hot monsoon alpine and tundra are represented in Nepal. Ecologically Nepal can
be divided into three regions:

a. Lowlands
b. Mid lands
c. Highlands

The livestock, farming and fishery also depend on natural features and geography of the country. As
Nepal is rich in water resource and has suitable climate for the development of fishes of various types,
hence fishery has great scope in Nepal.

History of fishery in Nepal:

Fishery is traditionally done by Pode, Maghim, Danuvarm, Darai and Damai. These people have long
history of fishery and earn their living primarily by fishing in rivers like Koshi, Narayani etc. Nepales eat
fishes for nutrition, delicacy and medicinal value.

The formal type of fish farming for economical purpose began in Nepal from 1947 when Agricultural
Council of Nepal established a small unit to introduce fish culture in Nepal. In 1956 Fisheries section was
created to introduce Fisheries Development Programme. In 1955-1966 about 6 government farms were
established in the country. In 1947 the fingerlings of Indian major carps were introduced in the Water of
Terai but could not be reared in hills. Therefore, exotic breeds like Common carp, Grass cap, Silver Carp
and trout were introduced.

Scope of Fish farming:

In Nepal it is considered as a profitable, occupation and source of income for agriculture also. In Nepal
the climate and nature of soil is also suitable for the construction of fish ponds in different parts of
country.

As far as natural resources are concerned, Nepal has 3 main rivers i.e. Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali where
many types of fishes are found. There are also many tributaries of these rivers where fishing is done.
Also there are many lakes in Nepal like Fewa, Rupa, Begnas, Rara where rich fish fauna is found.
Fishes are sold as fresh, sun dried or smoke dried in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara etc.

Species of Fishes in Nepal:

In Nepal there are about 122 species of fishes. Some common species are Caltla, Labeo, Channa etc.

The commonly cultivated fishes are Labeo rohita, Catla catla. The exotic species are Common carp
(Cyprinus carpio), Silver carp (Hypopthalmichthys moltrix), Bigheaded carp (Aristichthys nobilis) and
trouts.

Fish farms in Nepal

There are 2 types of fish farms in Nepal namely: Private and Governmental. Generally, governmental fish
farms produce and distribute the fingerlings to private fish farms.

Government Fish farms are of 2 types: Commercial Fish farms and Fisheries fish farms. Some fish farms
are:

a. Hetauda – Commercial Fish Farm

b. Godavari- Fisheries Development Centre
c. Balaju- Central hatchery
d. Rapti- Commercial Fish farm

Pre-requisite of Fish farming:

For fish farming ponds are required and ponds should be near market and should have facilities of road
transport and permanent source of water. Cheap products for feeding should also be available. The
ponds should be made at place where water leakage is minimal. In ponds there should be profuse
development of zooplanktons and phytoplankton to serve as food to fishes. In a single pond, neither
excess amount of fishes should not be reared as it brings competition for survival comes into play, nor
less fishes should be reared as resources and not properly utilized.

Steps of fish rearing:

1st steps: Collection of Eggs

Eggs of carps are collected in month of monsoon in natural condition. Fishes migrate from river to
shallow water for breeding. The eggs should be collected within 12-14 hours after fertilization and
should be hatched under protected condition.

Very close to breeding ground hatching pits are made. These pits are 8’*4’*2’. These pits are
interconnected to allow water to flow from one pit to another. Only 2- 25% egg hatch successfully. The
water flow allows initiating hatching of eggs. Eggs hatch within 2-15 hrs. After hatching, hatchlings
become slender.
Major carps do not hatch in tanks, ponds or confined water. So the matured major carps are introduced
to flowing water. The ratio of male to female fish is either 2:1 or 3:1. The water stimulates breeding of
fish. Eggs are collected by mosquito net and transferred to hatching pits.

b. Transport of seedlings

Transport of seedlings at short distance is done in earthen ware and long distance is done in metal
container as earthen wares may break. The temperature during transport should be below 20 degree. A
rise in temperature decreased oxygen content.

While transferring to Nursery pint, the wares should be lowered in water slowly or else if hatchlings are
directly poured due to temperature difference mortality rate increases. The transferring should be done
at night to prevent attack of fish attacking birds and rodent.

C. Nursery pond

The seedlings are transported to nursery pond which is 1st and smallest pond. It is a rectangular covering
area of 1/3 to ½ acre and not deeper than 90 cm. It prepared scientifically by draining water from pond.
The pesticides and plants should be removed and then lime should be added after knowing pH of soil.

Organic manure like cow dung and inorganic fertilizers should be added.

D .Rearing pond:
The fries are then are transferred to rearing pond whose depth is about 1 to 2 inch. The rearing pond is
used for 2-3 months. The seedlings attain 20-25 mm length in about 15 days. The fingerling stage i.e. 75-
125 mm. The fingerlings are then transferred to stocking ponds.

E. Stocking pond

The stocking pond is large and perennial. It covers area of about 0.2-20 hector and average depth of 6
feet. Stocking ponds manuring is done using both organic and inorganic manures. Organic manures is
cowdung while inorganic manure include mixture of Ammonium sulphate, superphosphate and calcium
phosphate in ration 11:5:1 used at 1000-1500 kg/ha/yr. The capacity of stocking pond depends on
factors like combination of fishes, fertilization of pond etc.

Induced breeding

During sort out of fries it is difficult to sort out economical fishes. So, induced breeding technique is
used. For this several economical carps are injected with pituitary hormone.

To prepare this hormone, the fish’s pituitary is collected and dehydrated in absolute alcohol. These
pituitaries are stored in cold temperature. It is then grinded with distilled water or saline water and
injected intra muscularly.

Male and female fishes are taken in ratio 2:1. Female are given 2 injections at 6 hrs lapse. 1st dose is
given 2-3mg/kg body weight and 2nd is given 5-8mg/kg body weight. The male is given 2-3mg/kg body
weight along the 2nd injection with female. The fishes are kept in meshed mosquito net and fertilized egg
is transferred to hatching pits.

Condition for optimum production

1. Pond should be properly managed against soil erosion, flood, disease, oxygen depletion,
pollution etc.
2. Overstocking and under stocking should not be done.
3. Polyculture i.e rearing 2 species in a single pond should be done. It is practiced in Nepal only
with Chinese carp and Common carp

This note has been written by Question Bank. I hope it may be helpful.