| Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world and is considered to be of vital importance for the livelihood and nutritional security. Here we describe an innovative “Microsate” cage fish culture model for alternative income generation and livelihood security of inland fisherfolks. The “Microsate” were implemented in the Vembanad lake close to Azhikode bar mouth along the West coast of India. The programme implementation have processes such as stakeholder selection, site selection, fabrication of cages, monitoring the culture process, harvesting and marketing of the fish. The selected male and female stakeholders members were trained for “Microsate” fabrication and rearing of the fish. Hatchery reared Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) and indigenous Pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis) fingerlings were stocked in the cages. They were fed with pellet feed as well as trash fish at dawn and dusk period. After the seven months of “Microsate” culture, plate size fishes were harvested and sold out in the domestic market with premium price. The income generated equally divided among the members which was used for the second culture. The newly developed, ecofriendly microsate cage culture model can be used as a replicable model to address the livelihood insecurity of the rural fisher folk. Most importantly it acts as a means for ensured alternative livelihood and to culture the indigenous fish stocks which are presently overexploited and are under the threat of extinction. This type of food production systems can decrease the fishing pressure on indigenous fish species and also generate alternative income for the inland rural fishers. “Microsate” cage fish culture endeavor for livelihood and nutritional security of the rural fisherfolks has become a promising intervention in India. |
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1T.B Ratheesh 1
