Author(s): AFM Shofiquzzoha, Md. Abdul Halim and Md. Shariful Islam

Abstract: The study was carried out during January to March, 2016 to understand the present status of the commercially important small fish species cultured in Jessore regions. Thirty five small fish farmers of four upazilas were interviewed. The education level of the respondents were, 31.43% passed primary, 37.14% secondary, 17.14% graduate and 14.28% post-graduate in the study areas. The average pond size was 0.24 ha within a range of 0.07-0.94 ha. In the study areas, 45.7% farmers usually stocked during December-February, 40.0% in March-May, 5.7% in June-August and 8.6% were in September-November as crop cycle. It was found that among small fish, no other species but, 55% farmers cultured koi (Anabas spp)of Vietamanamise strain, 32% of indigenous shing (Heteropneustes fossilis) and 13% were practiced magur (Clarias batrachus) species only. About 82.86% farmers collected seed from different hatcheries, 14.29% of fry traders and 2.86% from local market. Average stocking density of all three species in the study areas were found 4,71,214 fries /ha per crop cycle. The cultural cycle per crop was assessed 126 days for koi, 237 days for shing and 174 days for magur. The average feed application by the farmers was 6.79% of the estimated crop per day. The farmers often used potassium per magnate (0.575 kg/ha) as precaution measures of diseases in their ponds. The average dosages of inorganic fertilizer such as urea and TSP were 94.35 kg/ha, 127.75 kg/ha respectively. About 65.71% farmers exchanged water regularly in their ponds, but 34.29% never exchanged water while 68.57% of the farmers reported fish disease as the single most problem for fish farming while 8.57%, 11.14%, 14.28%, 2.85% identified the non availability of fish seed during stocking period, non availability of qualitative feed, natural disasters flood, drought respectively. The average small fish production was estimated 3,956.32 kg/ha. Farmers remained in unsafe and sometimes with the traditional culture system. They concerned about standard value of water quality parameters for fish culture, but they did not care about the measure. There is a scope of producing valuable some other indigenous high valued small fish species like gulsa (Mystus cavasius) and pabda (Ompok pabda) in alternate mono or mixed culture system.

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