Studies on Indigenous Ornamental Fish Species with Reference to Entrepreneurship Development in Some Districts of West Bengal

Abstract

West Bengal contains richest source of freshwater indigenous fishes having tremendous potential as ornamental fishes. Some of the indigenous ornamental fishes are Notopterus notopterus, Notopterus chitala, Ompok pabda, Danio devario, Brachydanio rerio, Mystus spp., Puntius spp., Chanda spp., Colisa spp., Pangasius sutchi, Glossogobius giuris, Nandus nandus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Anabus testudineus, Channa punctutus, Mastacembalus armatus, Rasbora rasbora, Chacca chacca, etc. Our survey in some districts of West Bengal revealed that these ornamental fishes are under threat due to indiscriminate introduction of exotic fishes, application of toxicants and pesticides and eradication of these potential fishes as weed fishes during composite fish culture or polyculture. But the fact is that huge demand remains in the international market for these fishes. This paper as an attempt to reveal that there is a great opportunity in entrepreneurship development among the unemployed person with more sustainable exploitation of the above indigenous fishes.