Response of Different Fish Species to Highly Saline Water under Desert Climate Condition - Finding Options for Local Food Security

Fresh water shortage is indeed a global issue that affects many areas of the world, including desert regions like the Thar Desert of Pakistan. Recurring droughts have badly affected the marginal communities of these areas. The desert has wide spread lenses of saline groundwater. There is a pressing need for exploring ways to use saline groundwater and identifying alternative sources of livelihood under the prevailing conditions. Therefore, a research study on saline aquaculture was conducted. Twenty fish fingerlings (40-50 g) of the varieties namely rahu labeo (locally kurh’rho), silver carp, mrigal carp (morakhi) and grass carp were stocked into the earthen fish pond. Saline groundwater having electrical conductivity (EC) between 8.5 - 9.0 dS/m was used to fill the pond. The overall yield of silver carp was the highest (1275 g/fish) followed by grass (1093 g/fish), mrigal carp (965 g/fish) and rahu labeo (610 g/fish). However, meal yield of grass variety was the highest followed by mrigal carp, silver and lowest of rahu labeo. Silver carp varieties had 330 g/fish of egg in their bodies. Hence, for the massive fingerling development, silver carp is recommended for saline aquaculture. However, for meal production and high economic return, grass carp should be selected for saline aqua-culturing.