ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar Demonstrated Murrel Seed Production Technology in Telangana
09 August 2022, New Delhi: Murrels also known as Snakeheads, is a potential candidate species for aquaculture in Asia, it shows an excellent growth rate and can be cultured at high stocking rates. Its promising nutritional quality, coupled with fewer intramuscular spines, usually brings them good market value (5-7 USD per Kg) in its native regions. In addition to that, striped Murrel is considered a medicinal freshwater fish due to the abundant presence of bioactive components in its flesh like albumin, amino acids (glycine, lysine, arginine), and fatty acid (arachidonic acid 20:4n-6) involved in antinociception, gastroprotection, disease resistance, antioxidant and wound healing process.
Striped Murrel is the state fish of Telangana and it is in very high demand but most of the catch comes from the wild, which has reduced its population in nature. Therefore, the Government of Telangana approached the ICAR- Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar to technically help in breeding and seed production of Striped Murrel in Telangana to boost its farming.
The ICAR – CIFA, and the Department of Fisheries, Government of Telangana established a Murrel Breeding and Seed Production Center at Wyra, Khammam, Telangana. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFA and his team conducted breeding and seed production trials of striped Murrel during July and August 2022 at Wyra and successfully produced about 1.5 lakhs Murrel hatchlings.
Presently, about 30,000 Murrel fingerlings are produced and the breeding trials is being continued to produce more Murrel seed.
Mr. . V. P. Gautham, District Collector, Khammam while visiting Wyra farm on 3rd August 2022 applauded the successful seed production of the state fish of Telangana. He appreciated the effort by the ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar, and the Department of Fisheries, Telangana for taking up this important program for the benefit of the fish farmers community.
