Hatchery-based mass production of mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) seed to scale nutrition-sensitive aquaculture

Abstract

Nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquaculture promote the production of micronutrient-rich small indigenous species (SIS) such as mola Amblypharyngodon mola, which is particularly rich in essential micronutrients, including vitamins A and B12, calcium and zinc, to address malnutrition in the developing world. However, to date, a lack of standardized hatchery-based mass production techniques for SIS seed has proven a key technical barrier to realizing the full potential of nutrition-sensitive aquaculture. To address this crucial bottleneck, WorldFish is implementing a project titled “Taking nutrition-sensitive carp-SIS polyculture technology to scale” in the Indian states of Assam and Odisha with funding from GIZ. A key goal of the project is to develop scalable mass production techniques for A. mola seed, based on a standardized protocol for hatchery-based breeding.