Union Minister Unveils “Amrit Catla” Genetically Enhanced Fish Variety

Bhubaneswar, : Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, today inaugurated the “Amrit Catla,” a genetically improved variety of Catla (Labeo catla), at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) in Bhubaneswar. This new variety, developed to advance the quality and productivity of freshwater aquaculture, was received by the National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), ensuring its wider distribution to farmers across India.

The launch marks a significant milestone in the field of freshwater aquaculture and aligns with ICAR-CIFA’s ongoing efforts to enhance fish seed quality for the expanding fish farming community in India.

ICAR-CIFA initiated a selective breeding program for Catla in 2010 to improve body weight at harvest and meet the rising demand for high-quality fish seed. The program involved the collection of nine Catla strains from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, which served as the foundation for the breeding efforts. Employing the Combined Family Selection method, guided by phenotypic information and microsatellite markers, superior specimens were selected. After four generations, the program achieved a 15% genetic gain per generation, culminating in a cumulative gain of 35% by the third generation. Field trials in Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Maharashtra demonstrated that the improved Amrit Catla could reach an average weight of 1.8 kg in polyculture systems within one year, compared to 1.2 kg for local strains.

The “Amrit Catla” project was recently honored with the Best Technology Award at the 96th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day on July 16, 2024, and was officially trademarked as “CIFA-Amrit Catla” on August 1, 2024.

In his address, Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to advancing research and development in the fisheries sector. He assured that substantial support would be provided to research initiatives to promote sustainable growth and increased productivity. Additionally, he announced that ICAR-CIFA has been designated as the Nucleus Breeding Center for freshwater fishes, reinforcing its critical role in developing high-quality fish seed for the nation.

The event was attended by George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs, along with other senior officials and stakeholders from the fisheries sector. The release of “Amrit Catla” underscores the government’s dedication to improving aquaculture practices, ensuring a reliable supply of quality fish seed, and enhancing the overall fish farming industry in India.