ABSTRACT
Fish play an important role in the nutrition of people in India. Percapita availability of fish in the country is 9.5 kg with production at 5.8 million tonnes during 1999-2000. This production level makes India the second largest aquaculture producing country in the world, China is the leading aquaculture producer. India cultures many different species including Indian major carps (catla, Catla catla; rohu, Labeo rohita; naini, Cyprinus mrigala; and calbasu, Labeo calbasu), marine shrimp, freshwater shrimp, oysters, green and brown mussels, and pearl oysters for domestic and international markets. To meet the increased demand for fisheries products by 2010, India must increase its current level of production to 7-8 million tonnes per year. With marine fishery production/capture steady at 3 million tonnes per year, inland aquaculture production must increase from its current level of 2.5 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes by 2010. India must intensify culture production methods for this increased production values to be achieved.
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