Tiny Treasures, Big Impact: The Vital Role of Small Indigenous Fish Species in Nutrition and Livelihoods

Abstract

By integrating small fish into nutrition-sensitive aquaculture systems, particularly alongside Carp in polyculture models, the dual goals of boosting productivity and improving nutrition can be achieved. This approach has shown promising results, but significant barriers remain. A lack of scalable techniques for the mass production and distribution of SIS seed inhibits broader adoption, despite their tremendous promise. Recently, the WorldFish India team along with its partners successfully developed innovative protocols for mass seed production of key small fish species under the project “Taking Nutrition-Sensitive Carp–SIS Polyculture Technology to Scale”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ. This photographic anthology Tiny Treasures, Big Impact: The Vital Role of Small Indigenous Fish Species in Nutrition and Livelihoods shines a spotlight on these nutritional powerhouses and the transformative role they can play in tackling undernutrition. It delves into the challenges of induced breeding, innovations in seed production, and emerging partnerships that are reshaping the future of small fish aquaculture. It is also a call to action—a plea for collaborative efforts among stakeholders, scientists, policymakers, and communities to promote scalable, sustainable aquaculture practices.