By Kumar Chellappan

Kochi, 23 September(HS): In what is being seen as a breakthrough in the field of biotechnology and aquatic genetics, scientists of the Kochi based National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources have developed designer clownfish in their laboratory. It took them seven years of painstaking research to develop the varieties of designer clownfish that command a high premium in international market.

Clownfish is a variety of marine ornamental fish, a rage among hobbyists and those rearing fish for sale. “Aquarists and traders have created an array of colour variations in clownfish, often referred as designer clowns, and they are usually known as Platinum, Picasso, Snowflake, Snowbrite and Gladiator. Due to their unique and attractive color patterns, these designer clownfish are generally more expensive,” Kajal Chakraborthy, director, ICAR-NBFGR, told Hindustan Samachar.

The variety of ornamental fish is named clownfish because of their distinct colour pattern as well as the style of their movements. “They literally resemble clowns whom we have seen in the circus, and they make us laugh,” said T T Ajith Kumar, Principal Scientist and Head, Centre for Peninsular Aquatic Genetic Resources, Kochi, who led the team of researchers in breeding the species in captivity. Ajith Kumar is the master breeder of ornamental fish varieties and has developed many species of fish.

The new species was bred through cross breeding of two clownfish varieties named Amphiprion Perculia (male) and Amphiprion Ocellaris (female). “We employed the hybridisation process, a system of breeding an individual variety with another species. Though it can occur naturally in the wild or attempted in captivity, the hybridisation process helps us in developing varieties as per the design in our mind,” said Ajith Kumar.

There are 30 species of clownfish reported globally, and India is home to 15 species. The NBFGR is marinating all of them in captivity at their facility at Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu.

Ornamental fish rearing is a business that yields high returns with small investments. Hobbyists and aquarists are making a big fortune by breeding and sale of ornamental fish.

The business assumes importance in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of elevating millions of women to the status of lakhpathis.

“Women can do a better job than men in this business because they can give a mother’s care to the ornamental fish reared in aquariums. This is an enterprise which requires mother care and could be done with minimal investment. There are many financial packages like Mudra Loan and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana ( a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through Sustainable and Development of Fisheries Sector ),” explained Ajith Kumar.

Kajal Chakraborthy said the Tamil Nadu Government was the first State to make use of the potential offered by clownfish rearing. Hundreds of tribal families are supplementing their income by promotion of livelihood of the tribal community spread across Pitchavaram and Pulicat in the State.

“States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh can also make use of the clownfish rearing business. Women need not spend hours rearing these designer fish. They can attend to them as and when they get free time or during breaks while engaged in daily chores,” said Ajith Kumar.

No wonder the clownfish can help homemakers to laugh all the way to the bank, while the breed of ornamental fish can entertain the customers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti