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Abstract:
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The vast areas of derelict swamps covered by macrophyton and swarmed
by insects scattered in different parts of India are at present either under
total negligence or utilized as waste disposal dumps. Eventhough Indian subcontinent
is ranked among the first ten fish producing countries in the world,
the fish production is not at par with the increasing need of protein in the
average Indian diet. So the water areas which become unusable for conventional
human activities like the swamps could be used for fish culture which would
increase the availability of protein in the form of fish flesh, thus providing
new opportunities to the fishermen. But the conversion of swamps for fish
culture would entail considerable expenditure. Hence the significance of a
group of fresh water fishes which have made their favourable abode the muddy
swamps of tropics depending partly on accessory _respiration to survive in the
inimical environment. The homeostasis achieved in such a hostile, hypoxic
medium make them excellent choices for culture in the derelict freshwater
bodies of India.
These air breathing fishes form an economically important group which
are highly esteemed as food fishes in many parts of South Asia and Africa.
Though their natural habitat seems to be the marshes, they have also conquered
other freshwater bodies like ponds, tanks, rivers and flooded paddy fields.
They can also tolerate slightly brackish waters. They are known for their nutritive,
invigorating and therapeutic qualities and are recommended by physicians
as diet during convalescence (Jhingran, 1982) |