The air-breathing snakehead fish Channa striata commonly called stripped murrel in India, is one of the most sought-after freshwater fishes and is widely regarded as a high-value food fish in India. Stripped murrel (called "Korrameenu" in Telugu) Channa striata enjoys a good deal of popularity as a food fish and there exists a great market demand in several states of India, including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka etc. Live snakehead fish fetches a stable high price between INR 400-500/kg (USD 6-8/kg) in different retail markets. Because of the high edible and medicinal value, and it's also facing the risk of population decline, stripped murrel has been officially declared as "state fish" for Telangana in 2016.
Although induced breeding of snakehead fish has been successful by various institutions and individuals, grow out has been restricted to stocking a few fingerlings in extensive carp ponds to control weed fish. However, murrels in such ponds are harvested only once every two to four years when the carp ponds are dried. All previous attempts at rearing this species have focused on using either live fingerlings, or trash fish and trash fish mixed with pelleted feed, or mash feeds made from powdered dry fish. Rearing of murrels by using trash fish or farm made feeds would easily result in a deteriorated water quality and pond bottom and usually in such conditions the entire stock of fish is lost to EUS (Epizootic ulcerative syndrome) a fast spreading, deadly disease to which this species is particularly vulnerable.
Considering the need to bring more high value species into aquaculture in India and current snakehead fish commercial culture situation, Uno feeds - one of India's largest extruded fish feed manufacturers, who has got technical supports from Nutriera of China. Lots of valuable achievements have been attained since last three-year great efforts on the stripped murrel Channa striatus breeding and farming practice.
In this report, presenter will share the experiences of induced breeding, commercial farming and feed technology about striped murrel in India.