Kerala

Breeding beauties of the deep

EXPORT QUALITY: Ornamental fish in an aquarium in Kochi

Pure, premium and popular…

Fisheries authorities of Kerala are planning to scour the international ornamental fish market with these 3 Ps in mind for the ornamental fish export hub that is being set up at Kadungalloor. And in another three months, ornamental fish varieties that satisfy these criteria would find their way to Kochi.

More than entertaining the aquarium enthusiasts with their charming presence and delightful movements, these fish varieties would play an important role in rewriting the lives of hundreds in Kerala and also the State’s economy.

With the State Cabinet clearing the proposal for the formation of a company for promoting the breeding and exporting of ornamental fish, preparatory works are underway in full throttle to make Kerala the hub of such activities in the country. The hub is being set up in the Private-Public participation mode.

Pure-bred fish belonging to popular varieties like Guppies, Mollies and Tetras, premium ones like Aravana, Oscar and Discus and intermediate varieties like Gold fish, Gouramis and Sword Tails are there in the list of varieties that Kerala hopes to import, said those associated with the project.

In Guppy category, nearly 200 varieties are available worldwide. For the Kochi project, the latest ones that have entered the market will be fetched and multiplied here. The popular varieties account for around 60 per cent of the ornamental fish sold.

At the same time, though low in volume, the trade of premium varieties would bring in revenue for the exporter as well as the fish breeder. Through the hub, the authorities hope to bring together hundreds of entrepreneurs ranging from professional fish breeders to housewives and achieve economic progress in a fashionable way.

K.S. Sudhi

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