Fish farming in Patuakhali has taken a new turn with increasing interest in coral fish farming through artificial feeding. A project led by the Department of Aquaculture at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) is exploring this innovative approach in Matibhanga village of Kalapara upazila.
This project, titled "Coral Fish Farming through Artificial Feeding with Seaweed", is opening doors to new opportunities in both open-water coral fish farming in enclosures and closed water bodies.
The two-and-a-half-year project, which began in July 2022 and is set to conclude in December this year, has received Tk 74 lakh in funding from the Department of Fisheries' Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries initiative under the Ministry of Fisheries.
The project is being led by Professor Muhammad Abdur Razzak and Assistant Professor Arifur Rahman from PSTU.
Anwar Hussain, a 55-year-old fish farmer, is among the first to implement this innovative method.
He has been growing coral fish in his pond, spanning 30 decimals in size. "My pond used to dry out every year, but after a visit from the university's research team, I decided to try coral fish farming," Hussain said.
He stocked his pond with 700 fry, and within a year, the fish had grown from 5 grammes to 3.5 kg.
He said the fish is fed with commercially available feed, following the university's advice.
Mohammad Shariful Azam, the sub-project director, said highlighted the nutritional value of coral fish, describing it as a vital source of animal protein rich in nutrients essential for muscle development and cell repair.
He said coral fish farming not only contributes to the nation's food supply but also creates job opportunities and generates foreign exchange.
Despite being traditionally a sea and river species, coral fish are now being farmed on a small scale in enclosures, with the project offering key resources like artificial feed. While coral fish farming in enclosures has faced challenges in the past due to a lack of artificial feed, the initiative is gaining momentum.
Over 250 farmers have been trained to adopt these new methods, which aim to boost the local fish farming industry, said officials.
Arifur Rahman, assistant chief of the project, emphasised that coral fish is primarily found in open water but is now being successfully farmed in controlled environments using small fish like tilapia as feed.
The artificial feeding approach, particularly with marine algae, has opened up new possibilities for farmers across Bangladesh, especially in the coastal regions, he added.
Chief researcher Professor Muhammad Abdur Razzak expressed hope that this initiative would contribute to a sustainable increase in coral fish production in Bangladesh, noting that the project's success could help the entire southern coastal region.
