Closing the ‘performance gap’ of India’s aquaculture sector

Finfish aquaculture is an important source of affordable and nutritious animal protein in India. In the state of Odisha, traditional semi-intensive earthen polyculture ponds dominate production, producing mainly Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Catla (Labeo catla), but also often with other species such as Mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus), Pangasius (Pangasius spp.), Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), and Amur Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio). Feeds are commonly a mix of agricultural raw materials, such as rice bran, mustard oil cake, cotton seed cake, and maize flour, with limited use of pelleted feeds. The ponds are also often fertilized using both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Limited gains have, however, been realized in terms aquaculture interventions, such as genetic gains, improved feeds, farm technologies and practices, and disease reductions. In the present study we benchmark the current performance of Indian aquaculture using life cycle assessments, and explore different potential innovations that could improve yields and/or limit environmental harm.

鱼类水产养殖（Finfish aquaculture）是印度获取平价且营养丰富的动物蛋白的重要来源。在奥里萨邦（Odisha），传统半精养土池混养模式为当地水产养殖的主流生产方式，主养品种为露斯塔野鲮（Rohu, Labeo rohita）与卡特拉鲃（Catla, Labeo catla），同时常搭配养殖麦瑞加拉鲮（Mrigal, Cirrhinus cirrhosus）、巴沙鱼属（Pangasius, Pangasius spp.）、鲢（Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix）以及鲤（Amur Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio）等其他物种。养殖投喂通常采用米糠、菜籽饼、棉籽饼、玉米粉等农业原料混合配制饲料，颗粒饲料的使用比例较低。此类养殖池塘也常同时施用有机肥与无机肥进行肥水培育。然而，在水产养殖相关干预措施方面，诸如遗传选育、优质饲料升级、养殖技术与生产实践优化以及病害防控等领域的收效却十分有限。本研究采用生命周期评价（life cycle assessments）法对印度当前水产养殖的综合表现进行基准测评，并探索可提升养殖产量并/或降低环境危害的各类潜在创新方案。