INTRODUCTION

Hatchery
Hatchery is a place where fish seeds are produced in a
controlled way.
Hatchery may vary greatly in both design and function.
A Fish Hatchery
A hatchery may-
 be used to produce fertilized eggs, fry and
fingerlings throughout the year or for a part of the
year.
 be owned by the government, NGO, private
company, co-operative or by a family
 have the task to produce fish seeds or act as
demonstration farm
 have the responsibility for training and
extension
 also be used to conduct research
Hatchery management
Includes all activities required for smooth operation of a
hatchery and its overall management.
Hatchery management requires the knowledge of
the following subjects:
1. Biodiversity and Fishery Systematic
2. Ichthyology
3. Aquatic ecology
4. Fish Nutrition
5. Embryology of fishes
6. Endocrinology of aquatic animals
7. Fish farm design and construction
8. Fish pathology
9. Fish physiology
10. Freshwater aquaculture
11. Genetics and fish breeding
12. Limnology
13. Biochemistry
14. Agricultural Extension
15. Rural Sociology
16. Agricultural Economics
Stages of fish seed production
Fish hatchery
With all accessory

Broodstock acquisition and rearing

1. Number of fish
2. Individual body size
3. Selection of fish with suitable
growth and physical characteristics (from wild
source or from other hatchery)
Mohashol

Baghair

Broodfishes
 Broodstock preparation or maturation
1. Number of fish
2. Individual body size
3. Ripeness of individual fish

Induced breeding
1. Size and design of unit
2. Water flow and quality
3. Availability of substrate (tanks, hapas,
cages, earthen ponds)
4. Quality of breeding environment
5. Provision of necessary cues and/ or
exogenous hormonal stimuli and least stress
Hormone injection in fishes
Incubation and early larval rearing
1. Size and design of unit
2. Water flow and quality
3. Density of seed
4. Quality of seed
5. Water exchange rate
6. Dissolved oxygen content
7. Seed movement in incubator
 Circular incubator

Bottle incubator

Tray incubator
 Nursing/rearing
1. Size and design of unit
2. Predator exclusion and water quality unit
3. Seed and food density
4. Water quality
5. Ease of harvest (earthen ponds, hapas, tanks)
6. Adequate food density
Hapa Earthen pond

Nursing/rearing

Tank
Holding/marketing/transportation
1. Size and design of unit
2. Aeration capacity
3. Access to tanks, hapas, earthen ponds
4. Acclimation to stress
5. Good status of health
6. Empty digestion tract
7. Careful handling
 Causes for decrease of wild fish fry

 Reduction of natural breeding ground

 Changing aquatic ecosystem
 Soil erosion and siltation
 Indiscriminate and destructive fishing practices
 Construction of flood control and drainage
structure
 Dumping of agro-chemicals and industrial
pollutants
 Lack of proper implementation of fish acts
 Genetical problems such as inbreeding
depression, negative selection etc.