Background:
The requirement for continuous supply of huge quantity of water is a major bottleneck for rainbow trout farming in flow-through raceways in India (50-200 m3 of water is required to produce one kg of fish). This limits trout farming to remote locations adjacent to perennial water sources, making them susceptible to extreme events, environmental fluctuations and fluvial dynamics. Further, the absolute dependence on natural water supply constrains productivity and farm economics:
Technology details:
Through continuous research, ICAR-DCFR has developed and standardized an entrepreneurshipscale recirculating aquaculture technology for farming rainbow trout in unconventional locations, with very less water use and higher productivity. This recirculating aquaculture technology works on the principle of reusing the culture water after various levels of filtration, with the objective to provide optimum water conditions for rapid fish growth and welfare. Through this technology, the water requirement for producing 1 kg trout has been reduced to < 1 m3; the overall land requirement has been reduced by three times; and the unit productivity has been increased by nearly three times to> 40 kg/m3; and culture duration has been reduced to half, with the possibility of multiple crops in a year. More importantly, this technology enables the setting up of trout farms in conventionally unsuitable locations, where water and land resources are limited, but with good access to market. This technology offers the clients with support in diligent planning of the farm layout-design; choice of equipment with adequate functional capacities; proper installation; monitoring and controlling the rearing environment; standard operating procedures; and risk avoidance measures. ICAR-DCFR has validated and refined this technology over a period of three consecutive years and has achieved consistent production efficiency, under controlled culture conditions.