BREEDING OF MARINE ORNAMENTAL SHRIMPS: A MEASURE TOWARDS GERMPLASM CONSERVATION AND PROVISION OF ALTERNATE LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDERS

Marine ornamental shrimps are one of the popular aquarium pets, preferred by the aquarists/hobbyists. In order to meet the ever increasing marketing demand of ornamental shrimps, these organisms are being over exploited from the wild, causing severe damages to the coral reef system, in addition to stock depletion. To reduce the pressure of wild shrimp collections and maintain the trade sustainability, it is the need of the hour to develop suitable captive breeding technology for these high value resources.

Developing divergent breeding populations of ornamental shrimp species in captivity will help understand the reproductive glitches, adaptation and elucidate the host interaction. In this context, the ICAR - NBFGR has initiated a program to establish a Germplasm Resource Centre for the Ornamental Shrimps at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. In this connection, live specimens of five species (Stenopus hispidus, Gnathophyllum americanum, Saron marmoratus, Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and Thor amboinensis) were collected from wild for captive propagation. Among them, S. hispidus. S. marmoratus and A.  brevicarpalis were successfully developed as brooders and bred in captivity. Larval rearing and juvenile production of these three species are in progress at the Agatti Germplasm Centre. As such, suitable strategies have been adopted for collecting the organisms from wild; water quality standardization has been done and feeding regimes have been established.

The outcomes of this programme will help greatly in conserving the natural populations of the ornamental shrimps through stock enhancement. Further, popularization of the breeding technology will help the islanders of the Lakshadweep to get additional income, as alternate livelihood, besides their routine income.