A national workshop on conservation of native freshwater fishes has urged the Kerala government to set up small-scale hatcheries in inland regions to popularise aquaculture practices of species listed in the endangered category.
Native freshwater species such as Snake Heads and Cat Fish have higher commercial value than the usual farming varieties such as Katla and Rohu. To promote the farming of these species, small-scale regional hatcheries should be set up in inland areas, the workshop proposed.
The two-day workshop was organised by the Prof. Alikunhi Chair at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS).
The workshop called upon the farming community to utilise the breeding technology of freshwater fishes and actively involve in farming activities to conserve the species. Boosting farming practices of local fish varieties would help conserve the species.