Patuakhali Correspondent :
Fish is one of the main sources of animal meat. Fish farming has a special role in providing employment, earning foreign exchange and providing nutrition. According to the 2024 report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Bangladesh ranks fifth in the world in terms of farmed and natural source fish. The projected fish demand for the country’s increased population in 2030 is 6.5 million metric tons. Farmed fish will play a major role in meeting the projected fish demand.
There has been some coral fish farming in coastal areas of Bangladesh for a long time. Here different types of small fish, tilapia or other fish are used as coral food. Coral fish farming has not become popular due to lack of artificial feed.
Patuakhali University of Science and Technology Public Relations and Publication Department Branch Head Imadul Haque Prince said that under the Fisheries Directorate’s Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, Patuakhali University of Science and Technology’s Aquaculture Department is conducting research activities of the sub-project ‘Coral Fish Farming with Artificial Food in the Coastal Area of ​​Bangladesh through Sea Algae’ in Barisal Division. Continuing to Alipur of Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district. In the study of this new technology, the researchers have opened the door to a new success and possibility in fish farming in the southern region. Patuakhali University of Science and Technology Aquaculture Department professor is the main researcher of this new research sub-project in Alipur of Patuakhali. Muhammad Abdur Razzak and Associate Professor of Fisheries Biology and Genetics Department Md. Arifur Rahman as assistant chief researcher. The sub-project is fully funded by the Department of Fisheries’ Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project.
Coral fish are very nutritious. Coral fish contains high-quality nutrients that help our body build muscle, repair damaged cells, and produce hormones. Coral fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. The amounts of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are particularly significant. These fatty acids boost our immune system, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve brain function, reduce inflammation and help control blood pressure. Also, coral fish is rich in vitamins A, B12, D and E, minerals calcium, zinc, iron, iodine, phosphorus and selenium. They play an important role in body building and growth.
As there is no coral fish hatchery in Bangladesh, the coral fish fry produced in the hatchery in Thailand were collected and stored in the reserve pond after nursing in the nursery pond. Because coral fish are carnivores, larger fry are sometimes separated by netting in nursery ponds. Coral fish fry in nursery ponds are fed artificial diet containing 50% meat with seaweed. At this time, 20-8% of the body weight of the coral larvae is provided with artificial food. A total of 4 to 6 meals are given during the day and night. A 0.2 gram coral fry weighing 5 grams is stocked in a stock pond.
The researchers of this research sub-project completed 1 research activity. This study determined the amount of seaweed in the artificial diet for greater coral growth in farmer’s ponds. Here, coral fish were fed with 0% to 20% seaweed in the artificial diet. Fish production was found to be higher in artificial diets containing 10% seaweed. 2 more research projects are in final stage. The second study is to determine the stocking density of coral fish and the third study is to determine the suitable diet for coral fish growth. Besides, researchers are working on water quality test, abundance of plankton, presence of bacteria in fish and water.
Studies have shown that stocking 20% ​​coral fish with 10% seaweed has higher fish production than using artificial food. At this time, coral fish are fed 1-6% of their body weight with artificial food. Fish are fed 2 times. As coral fish are nocturnal, half of the diet is applied during the day and the other half at dusk. 5 gram corals grew to 2-3.5 kg weight in 1 year which was unimaginable to southern fishermen.
Through this research sub-project, all fish farming materials have been distributed to the beneficiaries. Besides, 250 fishermen have received training.
Beneficiary of the sub-project Md. Anwar Hossain said that by giving feed food through Patuakhali University of Science and Technology Sirs, from September last year to September this year, each coral has grown from 3.5 to 4 kg. I learned through this that feeding corals turns into feed. Through this, the farmers will be able to profit commercially.
Subproject director of Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project of Department of Fisheries Dr. Mohammad Shariful Azam said that we are hopeful that the coral fish fry produced in the hatchery in Thailand will grow 3-3.5 kg in 1 year by using pellet food with seaweed. Due to the large size variation of coral fish during the breeding season, good results can be obtained by harvesting small fish and transferring them to other ponds.
In this regard, the main researcher of the sub-project is Professor Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzak said that this is the first time in Bangladesh that his team is working on the cultivation method of coral fish produced in a hatchery in Thailand through artificial feeding with seaweed. 5 grams of coral stocked in ponds in 1 year with a weight of 2-3.5 kg has created a new opportunity for fish farmers not only in the southern region but also in the entire coastal region of Bangladesh. He expressed the hope that the coral fish farming technology through artificial food along with seaweed invented by them will play a role in increasing the production of coral fish in Bangladesh as well as the production of Bangladesh’s fishery resources.
