Sea Bass fish culture gaining ground

KARWAR: In an interesting development in the field of aquaculture, the attention of the marine scientists and farmers has been diverted to the Sea Baas fish culture or shrimp culture in Uttara Kannada district.While Karwar centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has been promoting cage culture of Sea Bass, Marine biology Post Graduate Centre of Karnatak University here is keen to develop pond culture of Sea Bass. The CMFRI has proposed to cover the entire coast of Uttara Kannada district from Karwar to Bhatkal to popularise cage culture of this species.As far as the economics of shrimp culture and Sea Bass culture are concerned, one can expect a net dividend of about Rs 3.2 lakh from a shrimp farm of one hectare, whereas it is about Rs 80,000 in case of sea bass.The shift from Shrimp to Sea Bass culture is not sudden. It was in the mid 80's and 90's that the marine scientists and institutes, including Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Brackish Water Farmers' Development Agency (BFDA), encouraged the farmers to go for shrimp culture in the district. One of the reasons being, the district has nearly 8000 hectares of brackish water area, where shrimp culture could have been taken up. The response to the call by these organizations was so overwhelming that even big industrialists came forward to invest in shrimp culture.In the beginning, the shrimp farmers had a rich haul. But in the beginning of the last decade, a viral disease called white spot syndrome struck the shrimp ponds. The mortality rate in shrimp ponds was almost 100 per cent. Many experiments were conducted by the scientists to control the disease. Even herbal medicine was tried. But even today, there is no proper solution to control this disease.Sea Bass culture is easier and simpler than shrimp culture, says Dr Ullas Naik, a marine scientist. Trash fish is the food for Sea Bass and it is available in plenty in Uttara Kannada coast, according to Dr KK Philiphose of CMFRI. Management of Sea Bass pond is not complicated like shrimp culture. Moreover, Sea Bass is less prone to diseases, Naik says.Pond culture of Sea Bass has already commenced in some parts of Karwar taluk. Marine Biology Centre has arranged a training programme on Sea Bass culture in brackish water ponds in its premises on Saturday.