Food MArketing & Technology In India CC for web-HIgh Res | Page 32

Aqua
ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY:
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
By: Sundar Rajan *
Th e fi sh fauna
of the Western
Ghats comprises of
Barbs, Rasboras,
Killifi shes, Glass
fi shes, Catfi shes,
Catopra
I
ndia is one the largest markets for
aquarium business and in the past
decade it has witnessed an enormous
change in this niche industry. Numerous
foreign brands such as ADA, Fluval, Eheim
and other manufacturers have ventured into
the domestic market. Th is article will trace
the growth of the ornamental fi sh business
in the last few years.
Introduction to the Global Market
In recent years, ornamental fi shes have
received increased attention due to local and
global demand and the consequent growth
of trade and the export market. From 1985,
the value of international trade in exports
of ornamentals has increased at an average
growth rate of approximately 14 percent
per year. Developing countries account for
about two-thirds of the total export value. Mercy, 2007, the Western
Ghats of India are one of
the 34 biodiversity ‘hotspot’
areas of the world. Among
the 300 species of freshwater
fi shes in the Western
Ghats, 155 are considered
ornamental fi shes of which
117 are endemic to the these
waters.
Th e entire industry, comprising of non-
exported products, wages, retail sales, and
associated materials, has been estimated to
be worth around $15 billion. According to
a recent survey, about 7.2 million homes
in the US and 3.2 million homes in the
European Union have an aquarium. At present, only a small
fraction of the endemic fi sh diversity is
utilised in the ornamental fi sh trade. All
the ornamental fi shes marketed in India are
of the exotic variety. Even though there are
a number of indigenous fi shes, with high
potential as ornamental fi shes; they are yet
to be properly exploited.
Introduction to Indian Market
Atul Kumar Jain, Director of the Rajasthan-
based Ornamental Fisheries Training and
Research Institute has projected that the
market for the domestic aquarium trade
is expected to grow to `1,200 crore in the
next 10 years as nearly 5 percent of the
urban households will consider keeping an
aquarium in the future.
India is blessed with a rich diversity of
freshwater fi shes both in the Western Ghats
and North Eastern hills. According to Anna
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Th e fi sh fauna of the Western Ghats
comprises of Barbs, Rasboras, Killifi shes,
Glass fi shes, Catfi shes, Catopra, Hill trouts,
and Danios, which are ideal candidates
for the ornamental fi sh industry. In India
reservoir fi sheries, carp farming, prawn
farming, shrimp farming, and hatchery
production fi sh and shrimp seeds are
aquaculture based research activities
(Sundararaj et, al.2007).
More than 100 varieties of indigenous
Creature Companion | August 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 8 • Noida
freshwater ornamental fi sh species are
known to exist in Indian waters. Some
of these species fetch a high price in the
world market and support trade outside
the country. On the basis of the nature of
breeding, ornamental fi shes are broadly
classifi ed as livebearers and the egg layers.
Mollies, Platies, Guppies, and Swordtails are
typical examples of livebearers. Goldfi sh,
Tiger barbs, Golden rosi, Barbs, Koi carp,
Gouramies and Fighters are egg layers.
Experts Voice
Atul Kumar Jain, Director of the Rajasthan-
based Ornamental Fisheries Training and
Research Institute spoke on ornamental
fi shes at a technical session at the biennial
aquaculture event – Aqua Aquaria India
2017, organised by Marine Products Export
Development Authority (MPEDA) in