The research team, led by Professor Dr. Taslima Khanam from BAU’s Fisheries Biology and Genetics Department, announced this milestone at a press conference today. According to Dr. Taslima, this breakthrough has the potential to significantly boost Shing fish production.

Dr. Taslima highlighted that Tilapia is the second most important species in global fish production, largely due to monosex culture (the practice of farming either all-male or all-female fish populations). She emphasized that applying the genome sequencing findings to produce monosex Shing could revolutionize commercial catfish farming.

“Increasing fisheries production is essential to combat the impacts of global climate change and ensure food security,” Dr. Taslima stated. The Shing fish genome sequencing will be crucial in identifying genes responsible for sex determination, growth, disease resistance, and survival in adverse environments.

The identification of male and female Shing fish genes will enable rapid production of monosex populations through Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), bypassing traditional methods. This will expedite selective breeding processes, as male and female fish can be identified long before they reach sexual maturity.

Female Shing fish grow 40-60% faster than males, making sex identification vital for successful monosex Shing production. Thanks to next-generation sequencing technology, rapid identification of male and female Shing is now feasible.

Despite Shing and Magur (walking catfish) contributing only 2.52% to total freshwater fish production in 2020-21, these native species face threats from climate change, floods, overfishing, and habitat destruction.

The project, initiated by BAU’s Fisheries Biology Department during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 with its own funding, was later supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2022 to 2024. Using PacBio HiFi Long Read (Revio) sequencing technology, Shing samples from the Brahmaputra River were sequenced at the University of Tokyo. The first draft genome of Shing was created through bioinformatic analysis using supercomputers.

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Large rivers, swamps, and freshwater lakes are the native habitats of boal fish. However, you can raise fish commercially in large tanks, cages, or with the use of the biofloc fish farming system with the aid of contemporary aquaculture research, and you will undoubtedly be able to turn a profit. because boal fish are in high demand and have high market prices.

How to Culture Helicopter Catfish:

The process of beginning a helicopter catfish farm is similar to that of a carp, pabda, or chital farm. The Boal / helicopter catfish farming business is an excellent option to establish a commercial fish farming enterprise. This is a business that even novices may start with ease.

This article contains comprehensive information about commercial boal / helicopter catfish farming that will help you increase your profits from this venture.

Site selection and Pond Preparation:

Once a comprehensive business strategy has been prepared, the next step is to choose a prime location for your boal fish farming venture. It will be ideal if the location you have chosen is devoid of residential areas, noise pollution, and other disturbances.

You must build a pond after choosing a suitable location. The size of the pond will depend on how much area you have available, but an earthen pond with at least an acre of land will be preferable for commercial fish production. Natural earthen ponds are said to be beneficial for the boal fish farming industry.

An improved fish yield is the result of proper pond preparation. Pond preparation includes everything from watering the pond to fertilizing, liming, greening the pond, and adding natural feed. 

Seed collection / spawning:

You can obtain the seeds for a commercial boal fish farming enterprise from hatcheries that spawn the fish or from natural sources.

From mid-April to August, boal fish spawn. During breeding, fish may be distinguished clearly between male and female. The male fish’s belly is normal during the breeding season, whereas the female fish’s belly is filled with eggs.

Boal fish ovulates only when injected with PG (Pituitary gland) hormones. The first dosage of injection should only be given to female fish. The dosage is 2 mg/kg. A follow-up dose of 4 mg/kg is administered after 6 hours. Fish that have received an injection of PG hormone should be housed separately, male and female. Typically, boal fish breed six hours following their second dose. When laying fish eggs, it’s important to remember that the fish should be removed from the house one at a time if two out of every egg hatches.

The eggs will now emerge if the belly of the mother fish is gently touched. The milt should be rubbed against the male fish’s belly and thoroughly combined with the feathers from the bird on the eggs as soon as the female fish hatches. The eggs should then be rinsed two or three times with clean water and put in a 3/4-inch-high water house. The eggs will hatch in this manner in 20 or 22 hours.

Fingerlings stocking and rearing:

Because of their carnivorous habit, boal fingerlings cannot be raised on their own. Cultivating them in combination with other species can yield good results. In mixed cultures, the stocking density is one fish per 5%. Fingerlings can be stocked at a density of 15,000 to 20,000 per acre.  In that instance, 2 inch fry should be released when the other fish weigh 150 or 200 grams. If this isn’t done, the boal will grow quickly and start eating other fish.

Feeding:

Helicopter Catfish / Wallago Attu are sometimes referred to as freshwater sharks because of their voracious and carnivorous habits. They consume several kinds of tiny fish and aquatic creatures. Generally, young boal fishes consume a variety of small fish and insects that they can readily obtain. Typically, this fish feeds at night. Aside from that, without artificial food, the fish do not get very large. You need to deliver artificial nutritious feed correctly for commercial boal fish farming operation.

Proper monitoring:

The commercial boal fish farming industry is growing in popularity, but there are a lot of things to keep in mind while managing ponds, managing fish, controlling diseases, keeping an eye on weight, providing enough feed, treating water, and so forth. These are all part of the project management and monitoring for the fish farming. The main factor determining your farm’s success will be effective management. 

Harvesting & Marketing:

Boal fish typically reach maturity in 10 to 12 months. Boal fish reach a weight of 20 to 25 kg after two or three years. However, you are free to begin harvesting the boal fish as soon as they reach the size you wish. Boal fish can be harvested using either the net or drain harvesting method. For a commercial endeavor, marketing is the most crucial phase. It is your responsibility as a commercial fish grower to research market demand and price. Taking the cost-benefit analysis of marketing into consideration, you can send them to the town market to obtain a better price.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

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It is now crucial to safeguard this threatened species in a way that is both worthwhile and sustainable. However, due to the lack of high-quality seeds and the challenge of inducing breeding in this fish species, neither commercialization nor conservation of the species could be accomplished. There should be clear guidelines for snakehead culture’s practices.

Site selection

Snakehead culture is best suited for locations near canals or rivers that have enough high-quality water flowing through them either tidally or by pumping.

Pond preparation

The stocking pond is 30 decimal meters in size and 0.5 to 0.8 meters deep. Ponds should be fully dried, tilled, and have excess aquatic plants and shrubs removed to create embankments. One kilogram of lime per decimal place should be added to the pond to increase productivity and the pH of the water. To raise the density of plankton in pond waters, inorganic fertilizers such as 300 g/decimal urea and 700 g/decimal triple super phosphate (TSP) should be added after 5 days of water intake. Applying 5 kg/decimal of cow manure after 5 days of fertilization is recommended. Then, 2 kg of mustered oil cake per decimal should be administered after 2 days. Horra (Metal chain) should be pulled daily over the following seven days to avoid fertilizers settling and perhaps causing methane to build up in the bottom of the pond. Once there is an abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton, the pond water turns green, making it suitable for the stocking of desirable fish fingerlings.

Seed or brood collection

In order to produce high-quality seed, farmers can purchase Shol brood or fingerlings from breeders or from the natural water bodies of haor, baor, or beel and place them in ponds for natural breeding. Snakehead breed during pre-monsoon and monsoon season. The stocking period of fry is from June to November and brood in pre monsoon season. These fry are added to the nursing pond at a rate of 345–874 fry/m2, or 0.15–0.38 kg/m2.

Feed management

The C. striatus fish typically feed at night. Till harvesting, shol fish should be fed live feed or trash fish with an additional diet of rice bran, fish meal, and mustard oilcake at a rate determined by their anticipated body weight. For the first week of their culture, fingerlings should be fed at a rate of 20% of their body weight; after that, the rate should be gradually reduced. Typically, extra, or uneaten food is discovered to float for three to four hours, allowing the feeding schedule to be adjusted appropriately.

Water quality & disease management

Since natural selection occurs in the wild, where the seed stock originates, snakeheads have a high level of resistance to disease and parasites. Abnormalities brought on by environmental stress, parasite attacks, and poor water quality resulted in significant losses in fish productivity. In order to stop these losses, effective monitoring is required.

Harvest & Marketing

Snakeheads are cultured for seven to eleven months. Once the fish reach a marketable size, they are harvested when the price on the market is favorable. Using a portable water pump to decrease the water level in the raising pond and then seining are involved in harvesting. Following the process of sieving, the entire crop is harvested, and the pond is emptied.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

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The suckermouth catfish, formerly brought to Bangladesh in the 1980s as a decorative and cleaning fish for aquariums, has now become a major threat to fishing and farming.

It is unknown how these species ended up in open water even though they were imported as ornamental fish. This fish, albeit difficult to pin down, currently dominates the spawning sites of several native species. Due to the suckermouth catfish’s aggressive nature and omnivorous nature, this reality was inevitable.

Because it competes with local fish for habitat and food, experts worry that this species represents an imminent danger to the aquatic environment. Additionally, this fish is causing the extinction of native fishes and the destruction of aquatic ecology and livelihoods that depend on it.

Nur Islam, a fisherman at Buringanga River, said, “This river is full of Suckermouth fishes, and even one can spot so many at night.”

This fish can live in brackish and highly polluted water and survive in hypoxic conditions [without enough oxygen]. It is for this reason that suckermouth catfish are abundant in Buriganga’s extremely polluted water.

The government eventually banned the rearing, selling, transportation, and protection of suckermouth catfish since the species is invasive. In addition, the ministry has requested citizens to destroy suckermouth catfish colonies by killing them and burying their carcasses. In many ways, it is like a rat-culling program.

But the question is, how effective will this ban be in stopping the advance of the ‘successful invaders’?

It will take considerable time to get a proper answer to this question. However, some fisheries experts believe that more research is needed on this species in order to maximize its economic potential.

“A suckermouth catfish is not poisonous from birth. Animal feed can be made from the meat of non-toxic fish. Owing to the enormous need for protein-rich feed on the global market, it will both satisfy local demand and open up new export markets,” said Md. Masud Rana, Assistant Professor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. 

The fish has a maximum length of 45 cm, a maximum weight of 1500 gm, and a 52–56% meat percentage. The protein content of mature suckermouth catfish ranges from 20.55-21.22%, which is 2-4% higher than that of other carp fish and catfishes.

There are several ways to use toxic fish skins and bones, and the meat can be buried. Fish bones and skins, such as those from suckermouth catfish, are frequently used to adorn leather goods like purses, ready-made clothing, and accessories like buttons.

Fish skins are highly valued in the leather industry because of their zigzag pattern. Additionally, fish skins tend to be thinner and smaller than cattle skins, which reduces the amount of chemicals and energy required to tan them. A crisscrossing structure of the fibers makes them stronger, whereas cowhide is less elastic and prone to tearing.

“So the economic potential of this fish is quite high but only if we can use it properly,” said Masud Masud Rana.

There is a very high hatching success rate among suckermouth catfishes, which makes them prolific breeders. Therefore, experts think a ban on this fish might not help to control its growth at all.

A fisherman might be motivated to catch these fish only if they can be used for economic purposes and have a resale value. Therefore, the Government may be able to succeed by bringing value to existing ‘malicious’ fish as well as enforcing the ban in a strict manner.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

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This fish is commonly referred to as wallago catfish or helicopter catfish, while it is known by many various names in many different languages and countries. Borali, Aaththu vaalai, Sareng, Balia, Gual, Tapah, Barari, nga pat, Barwari, Balai, Parhin, Attu vala, Baloo, Bohari, Mully, Jarko, Walaya, Valaga, and so on are some more names for these fish.

Large fish species known as boal fish have a maximum length of two meters. Wallago attu is a huge predatory fish that eats primarily fish. Boals breed during the rainy season. Typically, they lay eggs in July and August. They lay their eggs in reservoirs of both open and bound water.

In its home region, wallago attu is a famous fatty fish due to its unique flavor and it is also highly nutritious. Boal fish is a very nutrient-dense fish that has 15.4g of protein, 2.70g of fat, 0.6g of iron, 0.16g of calcium, and 0.49g of phosphorus per 100g.

The ability of Boal fish farming to lessen the strain on wild fish stocks is one of its main benefits. Since wild boal fish populations are declining due to rising fish consumption, fish farming offers an alternate supply of fish without adding to the already stressed ecosystems.

Compared to conventional open-water fishing, boal fish cultivation uses less water and area. Fish farmers can optimize space, water quality, and feed distribution in controlled conditions like ponds or tanks, which raises production rates per unit area.

The need to ensure food security grows as the world’s population rises. The growing need for fish protein may be largely satisfied by boal fish farming. It helps to stabilize food production by supplying a steady and regulated supply of fish, minimizing reliance on unpredictable wild fish catches.

Particularly in rural and coastal regions, boal fish farming can boost livelihoods and open up economic prospects. People can start aquaculture businesses to make money, enhance their entrepreneurial abilities, and boost regional economies. Moreover, communities can gain stability and long-term economic prosperity by investing in sustainable aquaculture methods. Boal fish farming has many benefits, but in order to maintain its long-term viability, some issues must also be resolved. Robust regulatory frameworks and careful attention are needed for issues including disease management, ethical feed procurement, and potential impacts on local ecosystems. Governments, scientists, and fish farmers must work together to apply best practices and create novel solutions that will increase the quantity and quality of boal fish.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

The post Intro of Boal / helicopter catfish and its culture potentialities appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

This species is well-known for its excellent nutritional value and therapeutic benefits in addition to its wonderful flavor. In comparison to many other freshwater fish, it continues to have a high iron and moderately high calcium content. This species is regarded as a valuable food fish species and is suggested as part of the diet for those who are ill or recovering from illness. It is ideal for folks who do not want to consume animal fats because it is a lean fish.

Culture Potentialities of Shing fish:

In several Asian nations, catfish species have important commercial and aquacultural value. Due to their low spine, low fat, and high digestibility, these fish are regarded as being very healthy, appetizing, and delectable. Brackish water is not toxic to catfish. Because catfish fish have large, paired sac-like pharyngeal lungs as auxiliary respiratory organs, they can survive in captivity for an incredibly long time, even in minimal amounts of water. Because of its auxiliary respiratory organs, it can survive well in water with little oxygen. 

Challenges & Remedy:

One of the primary challenges for this potential fish species is that it relies heavily on commercial feed, which is not economical for fish farmers. In recent years, shing fish has risen to become one of the most popular commercially cultivable species among fish farmers.

Furthermore, there is a significant risk that farmers, who gradually switch from making their own feed to purchasing it from a factory, could be duped into using commercial feeds without knowing how nutrient-dense they are. This is because there is no strict legislation by the government over control of feed quality and cost.

The availability of fingerling stocking material is the primary barrier to the growth of any species’ aquaculture system. The management of nursery ponds, application of the right nutrients, and amount of supplemental meals are all important factors in the growth and survival of fingerlings. Bangladesh, its culture has not yet prospered in all over Bangladesh due to a lack of suitable nursing and culture technologies, a lack of fry and fingerlings, and other factors. The growth of commercial farming of this species, particularly in the northern region, will be encouraged by the timely supply of good quality and sufficient quantities of fry and fingerling.

In Bangladesh’s open water system of floodplains, canals, beel, and haors, shing fish was in plentiful supply. However, this species is endangered due to overexploitation and various ecological changes in its natural environment. One of the threatened fish in Bangladesh is H. fossilis. It is crucial to create an adequate breeding, nursing, and rearing method for H. fossilis fry and fingerlings given its threatened status, high market value, and strong consumer demand.

Farhana Islam
Agriculturist, Researcher
Fisheries Resource Management, CVASU

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