Small freshwater fish species (SFFs) culture: issues from nutrient security, carp-SFF integration and feeding ecology

Small freshwater fish species (SFFs) (length < 25 cm) are highly rich in vitamin A, calcium, iron etc. and hence, can contribute to social health through nutrient supplement to rural communities. Under the pressure of extensive modern agricultural practices and indiscriminate harvesting, stocks of SFFs are gradually declining and their habitats and breeding grounds are also being deteriorated at faster rate. A better conservationist approach could be carp-SFFs integration which will reduce indiscriminate mass capture fishing of SFFs and will ensure conservation of natural SFFs stocks in their habitats providing economic benefit to stakeholders. Different studies have already showed success story of SFF polyculture through carp-SFFs integration. This production cum conservation practice leads to sustainability-a better term in fishery is 'social fishery'. However, the part which needs attention is the feeding ecology of SFFs to understand within and between species (with carps) food partitioning and habitat preference as better culture cum conservational approach.