Salinity tolerance of laboratory reared fingerlings of common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linn.) during different seasons

Fish is increasingly being preferred as a part of our everyday diet and Cyprinus carpio is one of the favoured freshwater food fish among carps. To bring more area under inland fisheries, the possibility of bringing the brackish water area of the state is being explored. Laboratory studies have been designed to explore tolerance of fingerlings at different salinities during different seasons so as to observe their survival rate. A total of four hundred and fifty fingerlings were subjected to salinity regimes of 0, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 ppt for 60 days during different seasons (summer, autumn and winter). Temperature variations were indicative of the seasonal changes in ambient environment. Hundred percent survival was detected at 0 ppt to 6 ppt salinity during all seasons. Mortality recorded was 100% at 12 ppt salinity during summer (28.00C-37.00C) and autumn (22.50C-30.50C), while 50% survival was observed during winter (14.50C-19.00C). Fish showed high appetitive behavior to food between 0 to 6 ppt salinities. The present study suggests that common carp fingerlings can be reared in coastal waters with salinity of upto 6 ppt with 100% survival rate indicating that the high salinity areas may be explored for fisheries as well as for stocking enhancement programs.