Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: In a significant boost to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation, scientists at the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute have successfully achieved India’s first captive breeding and larval rearing of Channa stewartii, a prized ornamental fish native to the upper Brahmaputra River, without the use of hormones.
Popularly known as the Assamese snakehead, Channa stewartii commands a high market value of Rs 600–1,200 per pair. However, rising demand has led to heavy dependence on wild collection from hill streams, raising concerns over overexploitation and habitat stress.
To address this, ICAR-CIFRI’s Guwahati Regional Centre initiated targeted research under the All India Network Project (AINP) on Ornamental Fish Breeding and Culture. Since April 2024, researchers have acclimatised around 30 brood fish in semi-natural habitats designed with sand, bamboo structures, and refugia, alongside carefully managed water quality and live feed regimes.
The breakthrough came in April 2026, when the fish spawned successfully under captive conditions. Scientists recorded fecundity ranging from 1,578 to 2,769 eggs, with an average egg size of around 820 micrometres and a hatching success rate of 73 per cent. The larvae, measuring about 8.4 mm, were found to be healthy and active.
Experts say the development is a major step towards reducing pressure on wild populations while offering a sustainable and scalable model for ornamental fisheries. It is also expected to create new livelihood opportunities for fish farmers and rural youth through aquaculture-based entrepreneurship.
The institute plans to scale up the technology under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, with potential for wider adoption through ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and state fisheries departments.
The achievement marks a rare convergence of conservation and commerce, where science not only protects a native species but also builds pathways for sustainable economic growth in the Northeast.