Hatchery produced mola (Mahurali) seed release programme, Odisha, India

Abstract

During June-July 2022, with the support and appreciation from the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department (FARD), Government of Odisha, WorldFish succeeded in induced breeding mola for the first time in India at its partner hatchery (Biswal Aquatech), located at Tulanga village of Tirtol block, Jagatsinghpur district. The field team is led by Mr. Francois Rajts, a veteran fish breeding expert based in France who conceived the idea of mola breeding and developed a hatchery breeding technique for mass production of mola seed. The team was able to produce over 7 million mola hatchlings at the hatchery through scientific breeding experiments from June to September 2022. The team has also developed better management practices (BMPs) for nursing mola seed in ponds, and fry rearing for sale to farmers is currently taking place in the hatchery.