22
R.3.V. Puin
INTRODUCTION
This
review
considers
the status of
the culture industries for
the
most
important
carps and the future
for research and technology
development.
The
common
carp (Cyprinus carpio), the Chinese carpe (grass carp,
idella; bighead, Aristichthys nobilis and silver carp, … Ëo_liËll)
and
the Indian major carps
(rohu, Labeo
catla,
and
mrigal,
Cirrhinus
mrigala) are the only species considered in detail.
Ornamentals are
excluded.
1—
THE BIONOMICS OF
CULTURED
CARPS
The common carp has exceptional environmental tolerance. Although growth
is optimal above 20°C, it survives long exposure to <1°c and rapid temperature
changes.
It has been grown routinely at 5ppt salinity (Wood and Ghannudi, 1985)
and at up to
12ppt experimentally (Kim et al., 1975) and at pH's from 5.0 to 9.0.
lt tolerates low
dissolved oxygen down to about (3.7me and withstands prolonged
anoxia under ice.
Hughes et al. (1983) have demonstrated blood lactate increases
during deep hyp0xia, which indicate dependence on anaerobic pathways.
The
centuries
long,
successful
history of common
carp
culture
is
well
known, although it may
now
lose markets to less bony fishes.
lt grbws easily to
lkg
(first year) in warm—temperate ponds
and
more
in the tropics.
It is widely
regarded as native outside its true native
range, so ancient and successful were
the original introductions.
However, not
all
have
been
beneficial; e.g. to N.
America
(Moyle,
1984)
and
Australia (Shearer and
Mulley, 1978).
It muddies
lakes, competes
with
native
benthic feeders and increases nutrient
loading
in
shallow
waters;
for
example, 200 kg/ha of carp in a tha sha1102w
lake at 22°C
can
generate an 'internal‘ phosphorus loading of 2.8 mg total P/m /day (Lamarre,
1975).
The
Chinese carps have a long history
of
culture in
China (the
PRG
and
Taiwan) but are
less
domesticated than the common carp since captive breeding
by
induced spawning
has
been
widespread
only since the 60's. They have been
spread thr0ughout temperate and tropical zones for aquaculture and weed control
(Welcomme, 1981).
The
grass
carp is the
world's most famous herbivorous fish
(Hickling, 1967).
Grass carp introductions have facilitated successful polyculture
industries
and
some
sport
fisheries.
Some,
however, have
been
unsuccessful
because
of
difficulties
in breeding (eg. in
Fiji;
S.A. Andrews, pers. comm.) or
lack of experience
in culture and
marketing.
The grass carp's enormous growth
potential (several kg/yr in the tr0pics) can be harnessed in intensive culture by
supply
of large quantities of vegetation or feeding with
pellets.
For the latter,
Huœman
and
Valentijn (1981) concluded
that
grass carp and common carp are
about equally efficient at feed conversion and protein utilisation at optimum
feeding
levels
(around
32 body wt./day) but that
grass
carp
convert
more
efciently at supra—optimum levels (up to 10‘Z> body wt./day).
Silver carp and bighead are planktivor0us fish,
used widely
in polyculture.
Ghosh
et al. (1973) recorded a growth rate of lkg in 5 months for silver carp in
sewage—fed ponds. The stomachl‘ess silver carp is com monly assumed to be a
Spec1alist phytoplankton feeder. However, Bitterlich and Ghaiger (1984) and
(19_85) suggest that it is a more generalized microphagous feeder
uühsmg detritus and zooplankton as well as some microalgae. Silver carp clearly
R.3.V. Puin
INTRODUCTION
This
review
considers
the status of
the culture industries for
the
most
important
carps and the future
for research and technology
development.
The
common
carp (Cyprinus carpio), the Chinese carpe (grass carp,
idella; bighead, Aristichthys nobilis and silver carp, … Ëo_liËll)
and
the Indian major carps
(rohu, Labeo
catla,
and
mrigal,
Cirrhinus
mrigala) are the only species considered in detail.
Ornamentals are
excluded.
1—
THE BIONOMICS OF
CULTURED
CARPS
The common carp has exceptional environmental tolerance. Although growth
is optimal above 20°C, it survives long exposure to <1°c and rapid temperature
changes.
It has been grown routinely at 5ppt salinity (Wood and Ghannudi, 1985)
and at up to
12ppt experimentally (Kim et al., 1975) and at pH's from 5.0 to 9.0.
lt tolerates low
dissolved oxygen down to about (3.7me and withstands prolonged
anoxia under ice.
Hughes et al. (1983) have demonstrated blood lactate increases
during deep hyp0xia, which indicate dependence on anaerobic pathways.
The
centuries
long,
successful
history of common
carp
culture
is
well
known, although it may
now
lose markets to less bony fishes.
lt grbws easily to
lkg
(first year) in warm—temperate ponds
and
more
in the tropics.
It is widely
regarded as native outside its true native
range, so ancient and successful were
the original introductions.
However, not
all
have
been
beneficial; e.g. to N.
America
(Moyle,
1984)
and
Australia (Shearer and
Mulley, 1978).
It muddies
lakes, competes
with
native
benthic feeders and increases nutrient
loading
in
shallow
waters;
for
example, 200 kg/ha of carp in a tha sha1102w
lake at 22°C
can
generate an 'internal‘ phosphorus loading of 2.8 mg total P/m /day (Lamarre,
1975).
The
Chinese carps have a long history
of
culture in
China (the
PRG
and
Taiwan) but are
less
domesticated than the common carp since captive breeding
by
induced spawning
has
been
widespread
only since the 60's. They have been
spread thr0ughout temperate and tropical zones for aquaculture and weed control
(Welcomme, 1981).
The
grass
carp is the
world's most famous herbivorous fish
(Hickling, 1967).
Grass carp introductions have facilitated successful polyculture
industries
and
some
sport
fisheries.
Some,
however, have
been
unsuccessful
because
of
difficulties
in breeding (eg. in
Fiji;
S.A. Andrews, pers. comm.) or
lack of experience
in culture and
marketing.
The grass carp's enormous growth
potential (several kg/yr in the tr0pics) can be harnessed in intensive culture by
supply
of large quantities of vegetation or feeding with
pellets.
For the latter,
Huœman
and
Valentijn (1981) concluded
that
grass carp and common carp are
about equally efficient at feed conversion and protein utilisation at optimum
feeding
levels
(around
32 body wt./day) but that
grass
carp
convert
more
efciently at supra—optimum levels (up to 10‘Z> body wt./day).
Silver carp and bighead are planktivor0us fish,
used widely
in polyculture.
Ghosh
et al. (1973) recorded a growth rate of lkg in 5 months for silver carp in
sewage—fed ponds. The stomachl‘ess silver carp is com monly assumed to be a
Spec1alist phytoplankton feeder. However, Bitterlich and Ghaiger (1984) and
(19_85) suggest that it is a more generalized microphagous feeder
uühsmg detritus and zooplankton as well as some microalgae. Silver carp clearly