CMFRI introduces new fresh water fish to tackle aquatic weeds

A fresh water fish called grass carp has been introduced in Kerala's fresh waterbodies for tackling aquatic weeds that are posing a threat to its ecosystem.
The initiative of growing fishes in the ponds to tackle the weed menace was launched by Ernakulam Krisjhi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
The KVK started the innovative technology of growing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) which consumes the aquatic weeds as feeds, to eliminate the aquatic weeds from the fresh water resources, a CMFRI release said here.
Director of CMFRI, A Gopalakrishnan launched the programme by releasing fingerlings of grass carp into Perunninakkulam Shiva temple pond in Thripunithura near here.

Gopalakrishnan said the excessive growth of weeds will disrupt the ecosystem of the ponds and other fresh water resources.
"Among the 140 species of aquatic weed in the water bodies,the varieties such as salvinia, hydrilla and pistia are the most detrimental to the fresh water resources," he noted.

"Grass carp consume the weeds as feeds up to the extent of 2 to 3 times of its body weight. Since the fish does not breed in the ponds, its management is easier", he said adding the weedicides, chemical compounds to eliminate weeds, available in the market would cause damage to the fish stock and to the ecosystem.

A one acre-pond filled with aquatic weeds requires only 20 grass carp fish.
The fish seeds are also available in the market, he said.
Head of KVK, Shinoj Subramannian and Fisheries Subject matter specialist Vikas P A were present during the launch of the programme.