AK Hiru, Khulna
Scientists of Brackishwater Station in Khulna’s Paikgacha under Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) have succeeded in Artificial Insemination and production of fries of the critically endangered, near-extinct Chitra (Scatophagus argus) fish.
The Chitra fish is also known as Paira, Bishtara and Bothra to the people of various coastal regions of the areas.
It is learnt, the Chitra fish bears a great economic significance in the coastal region. The fish looks attractive and extremely tasty and palatable to eat. Once upon a time, the Chitra fish abounded in the Sundarban region and adjacent rivers, canals and water bodies.
Due to environmental disaster and lack of proper steps to preserve the fish, Chitra fish is now a near extinct species, according to IUCN, Bangladesh, 2000.
Scientists of Saline water centre at Paikgaccha reared some Mother-fish of Chitra and succeeded in breeding fish fries through Artificial Insemination of eggs. Chief Scientific Officer of the Saline water centre Dr. M. Latiful Islam headed the research team.
According to sources, some fries of Chitra fish were collected from Shibsa River and the canals adjacent to the Sundarbans four years ago. Then those were reared in a pond of the centre which grew up into adults.
Researcher Shaon Ahmed informed this correspondent that the Chitra fish is usually 35 cm in length and could weigh up to 1.5 kgs. A full grown mother fish can contain 2,000 to 2,500 eggs for every gram of body weight.
Another Scientific Officer Mijanur Rahman of the centre informed Chitra is omnivorous in nature and breeds during April-May.
Chief SO Latiful Islam said, the scientists conducted research on the artificial insemination of the fish for the last four-year and have been succeeded in breeding and rearing the fish fries. The age of the first batch of fries is now 34-day which the last batch is just 5-day. He added, it is harder to artificially inseminate the saline-water fishes than those of sweet-water fishes.
In this connection, Dr. Yehea Mahmud, Director General of BFRI informed the scientists at Paikgaccha Saline Water Centre with their relentless effort to have succeeded in artificial insemination of the near extinct Chitra fish which is a pride for the Institute. He added, once upon a time Chitra fish was available in the coastal region but those extremely scarce nowadays.
