Genetic Status and Strategies for Improvement of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Karnataka, India - Evaluation of Stocks for the Development of a Breeding Programme

Citation

Basavaraju Y, Penman D & Mair GC (2002) Genetic Status and Strategies for Improvement of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Karnataka, India - Evaluation of Stocks for the Development of a Breeding Programme. In: Penman D, McAndrew B & Mazid M (eds.) Proceedings of a workshop on Genetic Management and Improvement Strategies for Exotic Carps in Bangladesh, 12-14 February 2002, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A workshop on Genetic Management and Improvement Strategies for Exotic Carps in Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 12.02.2002-14.02.2002. Mymensingh, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, pp. 29-36. http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/PDF/Outputs/RLAquaConfpaper3R7590.pdf

Abstract
The importance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to aquaculture and enhanced fisheries in Karnataka state, southern India has steadily increased since its first introduction. According to the most recently available statistics, common carp now contributes 43% of the seed stocked by the Department of Fisheries (Basavaraju et al., 2000). Precocious maturation and unwanted reproduction have been identified as potential constraints on yields of common carp in aquaculture and culture-based fisheries in Karnataka (Basavaraju et al., 2002). Both males and females can attain sexual maturation well before reaching a marketable size. Even if fish do not spawn and produce fry, the gonadosomal index (GSI) can exceed 20% of the harvested weight of an individual fish. This early maturation poses a potential problem for culture, in that energy is likely to be diverted from somatic growth into gonad development and reproduction, and fry and fingerlings may compete with stocked fish for resources within the culture system. Various options such as induction of triploidy, production of monosex populations and evaluation of different stocks were investigated under a research project funded by DFID FGRP, UK. The present paper discusses the results of the preliminary trials on evaluation of different stocks of common carp, and future strategies planned for the genetic improvement of common carp stocks.