Rajfisheries Newsletter

From editor's desk 2021 is going to end now. There have been tough times for almost all of us in facing the challenge of covid 19.

First issue of Rajfisheries newsletter was issued in the month of January, 2021 and we planned to prepare a subsequent issue after 3 months but it did not happen. I myself had some cardiac problems in the month of April, 2021 and I was hospitalized, and underwent angioplasty. During this period most of the family members also suffered from Corona. Fortunately, all of them recovered successfully.However, during this period we have lost many friends and relatives which is a big loss- personally as well as for the society. Things are returning to normal now and hopefully there will be no third wave of covid after Deepavali festival.

After a few months I am back to my routine work again. We all realise that publication and circulation of newsletter (may be on e mode) is a vital mechanism for faster flow of information related to our subject of fisheries. In this connection, it is of crucial importance that the readers do contribute suitable material for the subsequent issues of this newsletter.

Meanwhile, some of us strongly feel that for the development of fisheries in Rajasthan there is a need to pursue certain issues more vigorously at every level.So far several states of our country have declared their state fish except Rajasthan.Several technical posts are lying vacant in the state fisheries department which need to be filled up. In this connection, the group intends to play an active role in the coming time.

Prof.(Dr) L.L.Sharma,(Ex Dean College of Fisheries, MPUAT) Editor

Newsletter of Rajfisheries Released Udaipur 25 January, 2021. Rajasthan's first fishery news letter was released by "Raj-Fisheries", a group of Rajasthan's fisheries scientists,teachers,fisheries officers and students, by former Vice Chancellor of MPUAT, Prof. V.B. Singh in an online event. Former Dean of College of Fisheries Prof. L.L. Sharma said on this occasion, President of the program Prof. VS Durve along with former Dean of Fisheries College,Kawardha, Prof. H.K. Vardia, Dr. Subodh Sharma,Ex Dean, Fisheries College, Udaipur, Dr. BK Sharma(Dean, College of Fisheries), Arun Purohit(ex Dy.Director, Fisheries), former and current officers of fisheries department, ML Arora,Dr. Amrita and Dr. Bhaskar Devaradi also participated in this virtual programme. Among others who joined this programme were Dr. NC Ujjainia(Prof. Aquatic Biology, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University,Surat), Dr. Shahida(Guest Faculty, CoF), Sh. Purshottam Singh Khichi(Progressive Fish Farmer and Entrepreneur), and many researchers of fisheries from different parts of the country participated.

Prof. V.B. Singh termed it an innovative endeavor and said that there is immense potential for fisheries development in Rajasthan. Fish production contributes significantly to the country's total GDP. He said that the Prime Minister's fisheries scheme will play an important role in increasing the fisheries production and productivity of the country along with the increase of income to the poor fishermen. He said that this newsletter will prove to be important in increasing the spread of knowledge and science of fisheries among the fishermen, scientists, teachers and students. On this occasion, the chairman of the program, eminent fisheries scientist Professor V.S. Durve congratulated the editor Dr L.L. Sharma for the publication of the newsletter said that more and more fishermen 1

should be benefitted from this newsletter by incorporating regional information in local languages.

He suggested setting up demonstration units through the Fisheries College and Fisheries Department to demonstrate the latest fisheries techniques.

On this occasion, Dr. BK Sharma,Dean, Fisheries College, said that a large amount of water is available in the state in the form of large and medium reservoirs and ponds, in which the fisheries production of the state can be increased by promoting fisheries scientifically. It will also create new employment opportunities. In the beginning of the program, the pioneers of modern fisheries and the personalities who have made remarkable and exemplary contributions in the field of fisheries were paid respectful tribute through slideshows. At the end of the program, Dr. Subodh Sharma, ex Dean, CoF thanked everyone. The online program was conducted by former Dean Dr L.L.Sharma.

Feature article: Invasive fish species in India Prof. V.S.Durve, Retired Professor of Limnology and Fisheries, Rajasthan Agricultural University.

The words exotic and invasive are the most confusing ones in the fishery language. The exotic fishes are those which have their original home outside the country they have come to stay.

They come to the new habitat through flood waters or their introduction by man officially or illegally. The invasive fish could also be from another ecological niche in the same country but adapted to the new niche to become the invasive species. The invasive fishes are normally considered as damaging to the endemic fishes.

However, it is not true in the strictest sense. The invasive fish need not be harmful to the endemic fish species, in fact several invasive fishes have proved themselves complementary and beneficial after getting associated with the local fish fauna.

They are thus non-problematic and the others which harm the endemic fish fauna are problematic. All exotic fishes are not invasive and all invasive fishes are not exotic. However, the exotic fish is likely to possess more invasive

characteristics affecting the endemic fish fauna than any indigenous invasive fish.

In India, we have a huge list of exotic fishes, majority of which are the ornamental fishes.

These fishes being small in size, could be easily imported. Majority of these imports were illegal.

The Siamese fighter fish (Betta splendens) is a Thai fish of different colours and in spite of its habit of not allowing any other fish to be with him, has proved itself both acceptable and non-acceptable to the Indian aquarium hobbyists.

The Guppy (Poecilia spp.) and Gambusia affinis were imported for mosquito control and have proved beneficial to the local fishes. There are fishes which are both useful as aquarium show objects and also as food fishes., the classical examples being the Goldfish Carrasius auratus, Koi and Gourami. In addition to their official entry, such fishes have also been imported illegally.

Recently.

Red bellied Pacu (Piarctus brachypomus) came to India in 2004 as an aquarium fish and somehow has now entered the wild waters and established itself in Andhra Pradesh lakes and rivers, lakes of Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam. It has now acquired the Indian nomenclature as Rupchand fish and is now regularly cultured as a food fish. There is another aquarium fish, Red bellied Pirhana (Pygocentrus natterari) which remains solitary when in aquarium but becomes gregarious forming schools or shoals in wild water. This fish then collectively feeds on any animal coming on its way, reducing the animal to skeleton. It was imported to India in 1990. It has already invaded our natural waters and has been found in the river Godavari at Rajmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

Pirhanas are food fishes and grow up to 30 cm size. The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) popularly called the Thai magur is a highly predatory fish. It can readily devour a baby goat or chicken. Clarius gariepinus has entered India illegally through Bangladesh and got well established in several states including Rajasthan where it is found in abundance in the Keoladeo national park in Bharatpur. It is proving dangerous to the local fish fauna and even birds.

Surprisingly, it is being cultured in Assam in the backyards under homestead aquaculture.

There are several food fishes introduced officially for boosting the aquaculture production of our country or to serve the pallets of selected elites.

The most important of these is the carnivorous cold water fish Trout (Salmo trutta fario) introduced by Britishers in the 18th century for their own consumption. This fish has proved itself 2

an accomplice of the local cold water fish fauna.

Similar is the case with the fishes Grass carp, Silver carp and common carps brought from China. They thus could be called the non-problematic invasives.

As against the above, there are food fishes intentionally and officially introduced in India but proved failure in the Indian Aquaculture industry.

The fish Big head (Aristolychthys nobilis) on introduction in India was found to compete with the local Catla and proved undesirable for the culture. Other such fishes are Tilapia and even the Vietnamese catfish or Mekong catfish Pangasius bocorti/sutchi. Tilapia and Pangasius (popularly called Bassa) are hardy fishes and also prolific breeders. These compete with the local fishes for food and space and in almost all the instances, their invasion in the local waters has seen the disastrous decline of the local fish fauna.

The officially introduced Tilapia in 1949, though found disastrous for the Indian freshwater fishes, is now an officially certified culture fish and is widely cultured all over India. This is because of its taste, fast growth, preposterous breeding and hardiness. On the other hand, the sucker mouth Catfish Hypostomus pecostomus (three species) commonly called as Plecos from the Amazon river introduced in India officially as an aquarium fish has proved itself very peaceful, non-problematic and coexists with the local catfishes and other fish fauna. It can be stocked in the commercial fish farms profitably and grows up to 24 inches in size. It is an algal feeder and readily feeds on the local plants. In Chennai, it has entered the lakes and proved itself as a control agent of mosquitoes and Hyacinth. This fish is basically from South Africa.

The most recent unauthorized entry of the alien fish in India is the American fish Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) a ray-finned euryhaline fish. It has the ability to breathe both in water and on land. It grows up to 10 feet in length. This fish is piscivorous but also eats birds and small mammals. This fish has been cited in Pune’s Pawana lake and also in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bhuwaneshwar, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The fish being of very large size, and piscivorous habits, will definitely prove highly problematic to the local fish fauna. The fish is a cold water fish but appears to have successfully adapted to the warm water conditions of India. Similarly, the South American river fish Araipama gigas, a very highly carnivorous fish which even attacks humans and is of the size 3 meters in length with formidable denture, has been seen in Kerala

state. If the report is correct, it is going to be the greatest problem to the Indian endemic freshwater fish fauna.

There are 31 fish species introduced in India for aquaculture purposes while 600 have been introduced as ornamental varieties. Majority of these are unauthorized introductions. Estimated annual average production of alien fishes fit for human consumption in India is around 18 to 34.5 % of the average annual production of marketable fish cultured in India. Till 1970—1980, large river systems in India like Ganga and Yamuna were home to native fish species. to-day, there are more Chinese carps and Tilapia in these river systems than the endemic fish species.

The impact of the invasive fish species on the native fishes could be summarized as follows: 1.It alters the stability of the native ecosystems of open water bodies.

2.Wide entry of invasive species causes loss of biodiversity and may initiate the extinction of indigenous fish species from the ecosystem.

3.The guest fish species may cause disease transmission to the indigenous fish species.

4.If the fish is a prolific breeder like Tilapia, it initiates the species imbalance in the fish population in open waters and ultimately dominates the waters resulting in uni-species fishery.

5.If the invasive fish is a carnivore, it feeds on the youngs and even adults of the local fishes thereby reducing their population.

6.The invasive fish may also take over the spawning grounds of the local fishes thereby disrupting the natural breeding of the local fishes.

7.By cross-breeding, the invasive fish may cause contamination of the local genetic pools.

8.It brings about the habitat loss of the local fish fauna and irreversible changes in the local ecosystem resulting in the extinction of the indigenous species.

Personality:R.S.Chodhari,Ex Fisheries

Director

Born on Feb 12,1944 Sh. R.S.Chodhari did MSc in1965 from Agra University with specialization in Fisheries. During service, he

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underwent two years training in fisheries from CIFE,Mumbai. After returning from Mumbai he was given posting as Project Officer Fisheries at Rana Pratap Sagar.

Sh. Chodhary worked as technical trainer to 12 American Peace Corps and established the first conventional fish hatchery in North India. Along With Steave Crafort ,Americans peace corps made an in depth investigation on fisheries of Rana Pratap Sagar with respect to fish behaviour at different water depths and seasonal variations in fish catch landings. For a brief period he got a chance to work at bhilwara and for the first time made a successful dry bund fish breeding. .At bhilwara myself and C.S. Chaudhary met Sh. Chodhary who motivated and guided us to join Rajasthan Fisheries Department.

Working at Rana Pratap Sagar dam (RPS) was the golden period of his life where he established fish hatchery, Sh. Chodhary recalls. He appeared for Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ARS) exam and got selected for the post of Fisheries Scientists, however, could not avail this opportunity but at the same time selected for the post of Senior Fisheries Officer by the Federal Government of Nigeria and joined this assignment in 1979 and worked there till January 1986.During his stay in Nigeria he visited several countries of Africa, Middle east and Europe.

Tilapia is the most common and popular fish in Nigeria. Besides this, Lates niloticus (Nile Perch) is a great feast and they call it water elephant which sometimes grow upto 100 kgs.

While working at Banswara, Sh. Chodhari also initiated pearl culture using freshwater Lamellidens,however, this activity could not be pursued further by the department.

Sh. Chodhari came back to India from Nigeria and the government gave him all seniority benefits and finally he retired from the post of officiating Director Fisheries in the year 2002.

Staying in Jaipur now, Sh. Chodhari enjoys a healthy and joyful life.

--Arun Kumar Purohit,Dy Director (Retd.), Department of Fisheries, Rajasthan

Conservation of Mahseer at Udaipur Endangered fish Mahseer has been successfully bred for the first time in Rajasthan at Udaipur.

Mahseer adults, which have been reared in Ponds situated in the Forest areas adjoining Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary for the last four years, were used for their first breeding, said Mr Shashank Ogale, the eminent scientist engaged in Mahseer breeding. Shri Ismail Ali Durga, the retired Dy Director Fisheries, stated that Mahseer was successfully bred in October, 2016 after several attempts and the seed so produced was reared in rearing ponds.

The present lot of adult fish is the result of the first breeding operation.

The breeding was done by dry stripping method and about 2500 fingerlings were obtained.

Mahseer breeding program was initiated by Sh. Rahul Bhatnagar, the then DCF,Wildlife, Udaipur in the Forest Department in 2012 for Mahseer conservation and extension with technical assistance from Ismail Ali Durga.For this, the forest department had developed necessary infrastructure(one hatchery and three ponds) similar to that of Tata Power hatchery of Lonavala.

After breeding, the Mahseer Seed produced was to be stocked in isolated water bodies and protected in forest areas for the purpose to protect and conserve the gene pool of Mahseer.

Fishesof Rajasthan(2):Rohu(Labeo rohita) Common names:Widely known as rohu and rui.

Introduction: Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822),is one of the most important food fish for aquaculture in India. Labeo rohita is a teleost fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae.

Rohu, is distributed in the rivers of Indo-Gangetic system in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (Chondar, 1999).This fish is found abundantly in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, jheels, bheels, ponds, tanks, floodplain wetlands in and around South Asia and South-East Asia(Talwar & Jhingran, 1991) and is reported from brackish-water system also (Riede, 2004). It is a major fish of the polyculture system as a column feeder. It can serve as an excellent indicator of water quality and environmental pollution in aquatic systems (Vutukuru et al., 2007).

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Habit & Habitat: Rohu is a tropical fish and hardy in nature as it can tolerate a wide range of temperature between 22-30 0C. It can tolerate 6.5-8.5 pH and salinity upto 3 ppt.

Distinguishing characters: Dorsal fin with 12-14 1/2 branched rays; lower profile of head conspicuously arched; short dorsal fin with anterior branched rays shorter than head; 12-16 predorsal scales ; snout without lateral lobe. Body moderately elongated . Mouth inferior and lips thick and fringed with distinct inner fold. Fin ray counts: dorsal (3/12-13), pectoral (17), pelvic (9), anal (7) and caudal (19). Dorsal fin inserts anterior to pelvic fins and ends in line with or slightly anterior to anal fin. Scales are cycloid and moderate in size. Lateral line with 40-44 scales.

Body colour blue to brownish along the back, silvery on the sides and belly. There is a red mark on each scale which is more prominent during the breeding season and the fins become grayish or black.

Biology of fish:The oesophagus is short and a true stomach is absent. The anterior part of the intestine, behind the oesophagus, is modified into a sac-like structure (intestinal bulb) in which food is stored. The length of the intestine relative to body length (relative length of gut - RLG) increases slowly from fry stage up to the juvenile stage, where after it changes rapidly because of the change in feeding habit from zooplankton to plant feeding. (Sinha and Moitra, 1975).The terminal part of the intestine is slightly dilated and forms the rectum. Pyloric caeca are absent.

(FAO) Food & Feeding:Rohu is a non- predatory fish mainly feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton.

It is considered to be a bottom feeder. It prefers to feed on plant matter including decaying vegetation. (Dube,2003) The species is omnivore with specific food preferences at different life stages. During the early stages of its lifecycle, it eats mainly zooplankton, but as it grows, it eats more and more phytoplankton, and as juvenile or adult is an herbivorous column feeder. A diurnal species and usually solitary.

Sexual maturity:Male and female rohu attain first sexual maturity at two years of age. The minimum size at first maturity of male is about 46 cm and in the case of female it is about 51 cm. One hundred percent maturity has been found in the 65 cm length group in the case of male while in the case

of females hundred cent percent maturity has been found in the 70 cm group (Chondar, 1999).

During the breeding season the pectoral fins of mature males are rough on the dorsal surface, while those of females are smooth. Rohu is highly fecund (1,09,000 to 5,35,000 eggs per kg) (Chondar, 1999).

Breeding Biology: The major source of Rohu seed in India is contributed via the Ganga basin.

(Frimodt, 1995).They generally spawn during the monsoon season. Rohu prefers to breed during southwest monsoon season in the month of May to September in water temperature around 24-31 0 C. In hatcheries it breeds in May to September. In natural condition it breeds in flooded rivers during monsoon. In a well – managed pond with balanced feeding and proper rearing practices it attains its maturity in 18 months. The female fish can be spawned through hypophysation with 2-3 mg pituitary/kg body weight followed by a second dose of 5-8 mg/kg after an interval of 4-6 hours.

Males are given only a single dose of 2-3 mg/kg.

Fish generally spawn within six hours of the second injection.

Spawning Season:Spawning occurs in flooded rivers once during southwest monsoon.It is also bred by stimulating riverine conditions in special ponds called dry bundhs. Rohu is now mostly spawned artificially in hatcheries. In Assam it breeds in May. Double spawning has been reported from Assam.

Eggs are demersal, non-adhesive, transparent and slightly heavier than water with a reddish tinge. The egg is 1.5 mm and after water absorption 4.4 to 6.5 mm in diameter.

Fecundity: Fecundity varies from 226,000 to 2,794,000 depending upon the length and weight of the fish and weight of the ovary. (Frimodt, 1995) Age and Growth: The fish grows up to a maximum size of 200 cm(Varghese,1973) Max length : The fish grows to a maximum total length of 200cm and max. published weight is 45.0 kg (Frimodt, 1995); max. reported age: 10 years (Khan and Jhingran, 1975).

By Shivani Verma, MPUAT,Udaipur

M.F.Sc.(Aquaculture), CoF,

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Obituary:Dr A.Y.Desai,Dean Principal,College of Fisheries

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Born in a small village Mangrol Junagadh Gujarat on 13 March 1957 Dr Abhay Kumar Yogendrarai Desai is a well-known fisheries scientist of Gujarat who made painstaking efforts for the establishment of College of Fishery Science in Gujarat. Dr Desai did his BSc in 1979 from Saurashtra University, Rajkot and MSc Zoology with Fishery Biology in 1981 from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Dr Desai did his PhD in 1986 on ecology of hermit crabs from Saurashtra University, Rajkot. Starting his career as Field Investigator and Lecturer in Zoology he was absorbed as Assistant Professor at College of Fisheries Science, Junagadh Agricultural University on 18 February, 1992. Subsequently, became incharge principal and dean of this college on 1st September 1996. On 5th October, 1994 Dr Desai was promoted as Associate Professor Fisheries in Fisheries Biology. During his tenure he attended several symposia/seminars on different aspects of fisheries. Dr Desai also has several publications to his credit including research papers,bulletins and articles.He has been a member of 7 prestigious organisations in our country and successfully guided 7 students in the subject of fisheries resource management at postgraduate level. He had been a member of of different committees constituted by ICAR for fisheries education related issues In the recent past during second wave of coronavirus pandemic Dr Desai was infected with Corona and left for heavenly abode.The untimely departure of doctor Desai has been a big setback not only for the the institution he groomed from the beginning but also for the well wishers, friends and fisheries fraternity of the country. He will be remembered for his sincere efforts for establishing the College of Fishery Science under Junagadh Agricultural University which is now attached to Kamdhenu University Gandhinagar,Gujarat.

Obituary:R.M.Srivastava,Asst Director

Sh. Radha Mohan Srivastava did his MSc in fisheries from HDS Dash subsequently he joined the department of fisheries Government of Rajasthan through RPSC. While working in University we had active contacts with Srivastava with regards to research and extension activities. It was during the tenure of Mr Srivastava that a major change in the allotment policy was made for jaisamand as a zero revenue model benefiting the tribal members of various cooperative societies. Jaisamand was earlier managed by the RTADCF and later on transferred to the state fisheries department.

Srivastava took initiative for online transfer of money earned by the fisherman directly in their personal account as against earlier arrangement wherein the amount was transferred to the Heads of society who had responsibility for disbursement of money to the tribal members of respective society.

A man of pleasing personality and humour, Srivastava suffered from severe jaundice and left this world for heavenly abode on 18.09.2017.

Obituary: Gopal Das Swarnkar, Asst.

Director Fisheries Shri Gopal Das Swarnakar, was born on February10, 1951.At that time there used to be 15 or 20 seats in Zoology MSc and in the first half of MSc all the students used to study together but in the final year, because of cell biology and fisheries being the subjects, the students of the batch used to take the subject according to their interest. Thus, in a small batch of final year only 5 students were studying. Gopal Das, the most straightforward and simple personality among us, who was very serious about his studies, was originally from Nathdwara but later settled in Udaipur. After completing his MSc studies, Shri Gopal Das joined the post of Assistant Fisheries Development Officer after being selected through RPSC in the State Fisheries Department and retired in 2011 from the post of Assistant Director on completion of government services from the same department.

When Shri Gopal Das used to study with us, his personality was very simple and soft spoken, but

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while working in the fisheries department, there was an unprecedented change in both his nature and routine, because later he started behaving like a flamboyant government officer and during this, many times he would get entangled with the senior officers above him.He also used to show his reasoning ability well to present his side. On the basis of several conversations with him, it was found that he was sorry that the department was not using his abilities properly.After retirement Gopal Das was recuperating at his Mallatalai residence as he was frequently ill. His son Ankit Soni is working in City Palace,Udaipur as Asst.

Manager Sales in Udaipur after doing MBA. Ankit told that during the second wave of corona infection, although many people in the family got infected and cured, later Gopal Das got infected and it was due to corona that he expired on 13th May, 2021.

Thesis abstract: 1. Effect of Linseed Oil Cake as a Dietary

Protein Source on Digestibility, Survival and Growth Performance of the Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) Yearlings.MFSc thesis(2021) by Shivani Verma(Scholar) under supervision of Dr. B. K. Sharma(Major Advisor).

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Linseed Oil Cake (LOC) as a protein Source on the digestibility and growth performance of the Cyprinus carpio yearlings. Five levels of experimental diets T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 containing linseed oil cake at the rate of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 0%, (control) were fed for 60 days. The linseed was added by replacing an equal amount of basal diet. The experimental fishes were fed at a rate of 3% body weight. Significant difference (P<0.05) and highest growth parameters as weight gain(62.39±0.59g), percent weight gain (56.42±0.54), specific growth rate (0.799±0.007), gross conversion efficiency (GCE) (0.266±0.002), and apparent protein digestibility (APD) (74.415±0.014) were observed in T3, and the lowest value was recorded in T0(control). The T3 showed higher feed utilization with a low Food conversion ratio (FCR), i.e.,4.126±0.09, compared to other treatments.The survival rate of each treatment at different inclusion levels of linseed oil cake was found unaffected. These findings indicated that Linseed oil cake at the rate of 30% in the fish diet has a beneficial impact on the growth of yearlings of Cyprinus carpio.

2.Nutritional efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf

meal (MLM) on growth performance of Labeo rohita(Hamilton,1822)Fingerlings.M.F.Sc.(Aqua culture)Thesis(2020) by Mr Anil Churniya, Major Advisor: Dr S. K. Sharma, College of Fisheries, MPUAT, Udaipur.

The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on growth and development of L. rohita fingerling was investigated for a period of 60 days. The experiment was conducted in FRP tanks with aeration facilities in the Wet Laboratory of the College of Fisheries, MPUAT, Udaipur. M. oleifera leaf meal was substituted for fish meal and soybean meal by adding at 0% (control), 4%, 8 %, 12 %, 16 % and 20% in the six different diets in the basal diet. L. rohita (mean weight 7.05 ±0.3 g) were randomly distributed in 18 FRP tanks (10 fish per tank) in triplicate.

The fishes were fed once daily at 9 am.

Observations for weight gain were observed at every fortnight to determine the growth parameters and digestibility. At the end of 60 days experimental period, mean final weight gain of the fishes in six treatments was 7.05g, 7.42g, 7.73g, 8.47g, 7.70g and 7.35g in treatments T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively.

This indicated a maximum % increase in T3 (119.98) followed by T4, T2, T1, T5 and T0.

Results on the specific growth rate (% day) of Labeo rohita fed on Moringa feeds observed higher results in T3 followed by T4, T2, T1, T5 and T0. FCR values were also higher in T3 treatment than other treatments. It indicated that Moringa leaves in fish diet supported better growth performance (Net weight gain, GCE, SGR) and lower FCR value and as well as higher protein digestibility with disease free rohu fishes. The study concluded that Moringa (M. oleifera) leaf has positive impacts on the growth and development of rohu fish (L. rohita) and may be recommended as substitution of rather costlier protein sources viz. fish meal or soybean meal in fish diet. However, further research may be undertaken for field trials of M. olifera as feed supplement.

New Research Papers: Gurjar, U.R., Xavier, K.M., Shukla, S.P., Deshmukhe, G., Jaiswar, A.K. and Nayak, B.B., 2021.

Incidence of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract of golden anchovy (Coilia dussumieri) from north east coast of Arabian Sea: The ecological perspective. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 169, p.112518.

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Gurjar,U.R., Xavier, K.M., Shukla, S.P., Jaiswar, A.K., Deshmukhe, G. and Nayak, B.B.,2021.

Microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystem off Mumbai coast, India. Chemosphere, 288, p.132484.

Gurjar,U.R., Xavier, M., Nayak, B.B., Ramteke, K., Deshmukhe, G., Jaiswar, A.K. and Shukla, S.P., 2021. Microplastics in shrimps: a study from the trawling grounds of north eastern part of Arabian Sea. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28,48494–48504.

Gurjar,U.R.,Takar, S., Sawant, M.S., Pawar, R.A., Nirmale, V.H., Pawase, A.S.,Chakraborty, S.K., Ramteke, K.K. and Kumawat, T., 2021.

Preliminary observation on the sustainability of white sardine, Escualosa thoracata(Valenciennes, 1847), exploited from the central west coast of India. The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology, 82(1), 1–7.

S. K. Sharma , Naresh Raj Keer and Vijay Kumar(2020).Ichthyofaunal diversity of GoverdhanSagarLake,Udaipur.Rajasthan.J.Exp. Zool.India,23(1),pp. 631-633.

Tarang Kumar Shah,Avdhesh Kumar, Ritesh Tandel, Debajit Sharma and Aadil Raja Bhat (2021)Evaluation of the acute toxicity of Thymus linearis ethanol extract and its effect on the hemato-biochemical and behavioural response of the Golden mahseer, Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1923). Enviromental science and pollution reserach, 28; 45235-45343.

Tarang Kumar Shah,Ritesh Shantilal Tandel, Avdhesh Kumar, Raja Aadil Hussain Bhat, Pragyan Dash,Debajit Sarma (2021). Chemical composition, antifungal activity and molecular docking of Himalayan thyme leaf extract (Thymus linearis) against fish pathogenic oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica. Aquaculture, 543; 1-10.

Vedrahi Prasad Bairwa, B.K. Sharma, S.K. Sharma and B. Upadhyay(2018): Length weight relationship and condition factor of selected freshwater fishes of Goverdhan sagar lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan.Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(5): 471-476

Announcements -Dr V K unnithan memorial lecture Dr Vijay Kumar Unnithan, Principal Scientist at NBFGR,Lucknow did his PhD under supervision of our honoured teacher Prof. V.S.Durve. He had worked on the biology of Labeo gonius of Jaisamand lake.Soon after completion of PhD at Udaipur Dr Unnithan was selected for ARS Scientist S-1 in 1978.After serving CIFRI, Barrackpore for several years, Dr Unnithan was posted for the post of Principal Scientist and joined NBFGR, Lucknow.

However, after joining the new assignment Dr Unnithan had sudden serious health problem and left this world on 26 April,2001.Being the first PhD student of eartwhile Department of Limnology and Fisheries, the group has planned to organise an event in the memory of Dr Unnithan.

An authority on reservoir fisheries at international level,Dr V.V.Sugunan, ex Director CIFRI, Barrackpore and Ex ADG Fisheries(Inland Fisheries) has kindly consented to deliver Dr Unnithan memorial lecture on Reservoir Fisheries.Dr V.S.Durve will preside the event. The event was planned to be organised early this year and the dates, and link of this online event shall be informed soon.

-Rajfisheries group members are invited to submit suitable matters on various aspects of fisheries preferably with focus on Rajasthan.

Writeup should be in the form of popular articles in abstract form supported by relevant data. For details you may contact the Editor.

-Invitation for viewing Video clip You are invited by to View the Video of College of Fisheries,MPUAT,Udaipur(Rajasthan).using following link:https://youtu.be/WRLziqZug8o Compiled and edited for Rajfisheries Group for internal circulation by Dr L.L.Sharma, Prof.& Dean(Retd.), College of Fisheries, MPUAT,Udaipur.

PN 207 Road 13, Ashok Nagar, Udaipur-313001 (M) 9829230343, (LL) 029-22940344 E mail: llsharma.206@gmail.com

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