Any land with 10-20% clay soil (clay loam soil) can be used for constructing fish pond. Clay loam soils have good water holding capacity and hence, water filling expenditure is less. However in case of sandy soils, water takes longer time to stand in the pond due to seepage, which also leads to leaching of nutrients. On the other hand, nutrients get locked into clayey soil, which affects productivity of the pond.

Seepage in ponds, constructed in sandy lands, can be prevented by any of the following methods

• Add clay soil layer at the bottom and then fill the pond
• Add 6-8" of water, puddle the bottom soil properly and then fill the pond.
• Spread any organic manure evenly on the pond bottom, mix with soil by ploughing and level before filling water
• Coat pond with clay soil layer before filling the pond

For obtaining technical information related to fish farming, the farmer can contact any of the following institutes/departments

1. College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal

Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab- 141004 Website: www.gadvasu.in Contact No. : 0161-2414061, 2414056 Email: fisheriescof@gmail.com  

1. State Fisheries Department, Punjab, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh

Contact No. : 0172-2705827 FAX: 0172-2541827 Email:dwfpunjab@gmail.com  

1. District level Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDAs)

To start fish farming, at least 1 acre (0.4 hectare) production pond with a 500m2 (1 kanal) nursery pond is required.

Besides agricultural land, fish pond can be constructed in any of the following land resources

• Low lying flood prone lands
• Salt affected lands
• Waterlogged lands

Additionally fish farming can also be done in village ponds and large water bodies (reservoirs, wetlands and lakes) in specially designed enclosures called cages and pens.

Construct the nursery and production ponds as per layout details given below

To construct the pond, excavate 2-3 feet of the land and raise the dykes with excavated earth as per following dimensions

Give 1% slope to the bottom of the pond towards the outlet for drainage

The dyke top and slopes need to be compacted with the help of roller to improve its life in terms of erosion stability against pressure and wave action of water.

In Punjab following carp fishes are cultured

Indian Major carps - Catla, Rohu, Mrigal

Exotic carps - Silver carp, Grass carp, Common carp

Following three types of fishes are cultured together (polyculture) in the same pond for maximum utilization of natural food present in surface, middle (column) and bottom layers of the pond.

It is recommended to stock at least one species in each layer of the pond. Hence, as per the list given, 3-6 spices can be cultured together.

Depending on the management practices adopted by the farmer, 15-25 quintals of fish can be harvested annually from 1 acre of fish pond with a corresponding net profit of Rs. 50,000 to 75,000, respectively.

Fish seed can be procured from

1. Government fish seed farms
2. Private fish seed farms
3. Seed suppliers

Seed of carp fishes is available only once during the year

Availability period for different species

• Catla, Rohu and Mrigal → July- September
• Grass carp and Silver carp → May-July
• Common carp → March-April

In Punjab there are following 14 government fish seed farms as listed below

Among carps, common carp is one of the highly priced fish and is preferred by most of the fish framers. However, it natural breeding increases the number of fish in the pond beyond recommended stocking density (carrying capacity) and hence, affects fish growth and productivity of the pond over a period of time.

Fish is a cold blooded animal and grows well during summer months. Hence, it is recommended to stock the production ponds with fish fingerlings in the month of March/April and rear it during summer months for higher growth and production. On the onset of winter, start harvesting fish (> 500g) and transfer equal number of fingerlings from buffer stock maintained in the nursery pond, for continuous utilization of the carrying capacity of the production pond after each harvest

Before stocking the fish, we need to make sure that the pond is disinfected, water quality is favorable and there is sufficient natural food for the fish. For this purpose, lime the pond (disinfection and pH correction) in accordance to pH of the soil and after 15-20 days, manure the pond with any organic manure (cow dung/farm yard manure, poultry droppings, pig dung, animal shed washings, bio gas slurry or vermicompost) or inorganic fertilizer [Urea, Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Potash]. After 2-3 weeks, when the color of water turns green or greenish brown, stock the pond with seed as per recommended rate and ratio.

If weed/predatory fish are present in the pond, it is essential to eradicate it before stocking new seed by following methods

• If possible, drain out the pond completely, dry the pond and refill after sunbath for at least seven days
• If it is not possible to drain out the pond, add mahua oil cake @ 800-1000Kg/acre or bleaching powder @ 200 Kg/acre to kill the fish. Remove the dead fish with netting, wait for at least 2 weeks and then stock new seed in the pond.

Dose of manure/fertilizer depends on type of manure used. Pond is manured before adding the fish (pre-stocking manuring) as well as after stocking fish (post stocking manuring)

Any of the following organic manure/inorganic fertilizer can be used to manure 1 acre new fish pond as per given details

In case of old ponds, the dose of manure can be adjusted (reduced) with respect to already available nutrients in the pond.

Quantity of lime depends on pH of the soil as given below

*Add ½ of the dose before stocking fish and rest ½ in equal monthly installments

Yes! The surface, column and bottom feeding carp fishes are stocked in the ratio of 3:4:3 For example

Maintain water depth and quality as given below