GUWAHATI, Aug 10 - Aquarium and ornamental fisheries development in urban areas is a feasible career option for the unemployed and educated youth as a means of livelihood.
Ornamental fishes usually mean attractive colourful fishes of various characteristics, which are kept as pets in the confined space of an aquarium or a garden pool.
Assam�s indigenous ornamental fishes have many qualities. Some species, including the unique bagh batia (Batia Dario), never changes its colour in any situation, while some others wear vibrant colours during breeding periods.
Prabal Sarma, a pioneer ornamental fish trader from Guwahati, while interacting with this correspondent said that local ornamental fishes have high demand in national as well as international markets. He also stressed that the movement and nature of feeding of some fishes including dorikona (Dario Daverio), four varieties of puthi (Puntius), borolia (Baralius Barila) and others, in herbs looks very beautiful and can reduce mental stress as well.
Dr Sanjay Sarma, a fishery official and fishery co-coordinator of ARIAS society, said that the domestic market has a high demand for varieties of ornamental fishes like gold fish, guppy, molly, betta, sword tail etc. Now educated unemployed youths have started rearing these fish species, as maintaining an aquarium in homes has emerged as a popular hobby in the State.
Dr Sarma added that in the urban areas there is always shortage of water but rearing ornamental or aquarium fish does not require much water as the water from aquarium or garden pool can be reused. Rearing of ornamental fish species requires less space in urban areas and also maintenance-free. He added that women entrepreneurs can practice this trade.
Along with physical exercises, meditation and yoga, fish tanks or aquarium are a wonderful way to reduce anxiety and stress from our hectic daily life, Dr Sarma said.
