World Aquacluture Magazine - September 2020

42 SEP TEMBER 2020 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WA S.ORG FIGURE 1. Flowing-water system for rainbow trout culture in Nepal (Photo: S.N. Labh). Terai is the main region for fish production in Nepal (Husen 2019). The eastern terai has greater production and yield compared to the western terai. The hill area contributes moderately to total fish production. Production of high-value coldwater fish species such as rainbow trout has increased in the hill area (Fig. 1). Rainbow trout culture is done in eleven hill districts and could be expanded easily to other hill districts with collaborative efforts between the Nepal government and private sector. The cost of production has increased due to the intensification of input use, losses due to fish disease and climate change. Maintaining a favorable pond environment is crucial to grow healthy fish, achieve satisfactory production and improve culture efficiency. High yield and profit in fish culture depend entirely on proper management. Even under excellent supervision, several technical difficulties may arise during fish culture with a possibility of large-scale loss of production. As aquaculture production has increased, the incidence of disease has increased, resulting in economic losses. Medicinal Herbs For Sustainable Aquaculture Antibiotics and disinfectants have been traditionally use in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases in farmed fish. However, improper use of antibiotics can lead to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and environmental pollution (Zhu et al . 2003). Herbs and medicinal plants are promising essential sources H erbal medicines from plant extracts has been used as a dietary supplement since ancient times. They have been used by different cultures throughout the world to treat illnesses and to assist bodily functions. Various herbal products are finding use in aquaculture worldwide. The lapsi Choerospondias axillaris tree is native to Nepal and its fruits are used to cure various human diseases. This article will discuss its use as a dietary supplement in aquaculture. Aquaculture Production in Nepal Aquaculture in Nepal is small and contributes just 3 percent to the agricultural GDP, although 75,000 Nepalese are directly engaged in fish farming. Fisheries production increased from 64,900 t in 2014 to 69,500 t in 2015 and 70,543 t in 2016, as reported byWorld Bank. Fish production has not been able to meet local demand despite rapid growth. However, around 80 percent of the domestic requirement for fish is fulfilled by local production, with imports meeting the rest (Labh et al . 2017). Nepal has three climatic zones, terai plains in the south, hills in the middle and mountains in the north. Nepal is ranked among the richest countries in terms of water resources. The country supports different fish and aquaculture activities in each area. The government of Nepal has announced official superzones for fisheries and aquaculture in some districts related to the type of fish farming (Labh and Shakya 2016). Increased production level may be related to an increase in the level of knowledge among farmers and increased availability of quality fingerlings and fish feed. Existing aquaculture is producing fish and fishery products for export. Potential Use of the Medicinal Fruit Lapsi Choerospondias axillaris in Aquaculture Shyam N. Labh, Babita L. Kayastha, Shubha R. Shakya, Suren Subba, Sunil R. Vaidya, Shakti Regmi, Gayatri Shah, Anju Lamsal and Prabha Chitrakar FIGURE 2. Lapsi tree in a garden in Kathmandu (Photo: S.N. Labh).