BOOK of ABSTRACTS: National Seminar on Innovative Technologies Towards Sustainability (TTS-2010) ASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA) ALONG RUSHIKULYA ROOKERY, GANJAM DISRICT, ODISHA N.R. Chattopadhyay, T.K.Mohapatra, *J.P.Sahu and *S.K.Dash Dept of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, *College of Fisheries, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Sea turtle have been used since time immemorial for food (oil and protein) and other commodities (bone, leather, oil and shell). Their importance in trade dates back millennia, whether it was calipee, leather live turtle, meat, oil or tortoise shell that was trafficked. Recently, sea turtle have become important for non-consumptive uses such as tourism, educational and scientific research, activities that provide opportunities for employment and information services, as well as other economic gains. In addition to their values as material resources, these animals have immeasurable worth as cultural assets. Diverse societies have traditionally held sea turtle as central elements in their respective customs and beliefs. FRESHWATER ORNAMENTAL FISH DIVERSITY OF NORTH-EASTERN INDIA AND AGRIBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES B.K. Mahapatra tute of Fisheries Education, Deemed University (ICAR), Kolkata Centre, Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700 091. bkmahapatra2007@yahoo.co.in Central In: The fishery resources of the North Eastern Himalaya Region fall within the all three types of climate, i.e. tropical, sub-tropical and temperate and represent rich freshwater fish diversity. Based on modification of different parts of the body as adaptation to various adverse environmental conditions, fishes are true hill stream forms, semi-torrential forms, migratory forms and plain water forms. More than 300 species of fishes under 112 genera and 35 families occur in the region. The ormamental fishes are diversified about 250 species possess ornamental value. The diversity is attributed to its drainages consisting of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghana, Kaladan and Irrawaddy and a wide variety of habitats: swamps, lakes, sluggish rivers, mountain torrents and coldwater upland waters, their altitudes ranging from near sea level to above 5000 metres asl. The region Jointly Organized by CIFE, Kolkata Centre and Directorate of Fisheries, Govt. of W.B.on 2 Oct2010 41.BOOK of ABSTRACTS: National Seminar on innovative Technologies Towards Sustainability ([TTS-2010) accounted for I per cent of country’s total (195210 kms) rivers & canal water resources and 8 per cent of other water resources for aquaculture, which includes reservoir, tanks, lakes, floodplain lakes & derelict water and brackish water. Meghalaya possess the maximum length of river & canal water resource (5600 km) among the north eastern states followed by Assam (4820 km), Manipur (3360 km), Arunachal Pradesh (2000 km), Nagaland 1600 km), Mizoram (1395 km), Tripura (1200 km) and Sikkim (900 km). However, in terms of ‘other’ water resources for aquaculture, Arunachal Pradesh ranked first among the north eastern states with an area of 3.18 lakh ha, followed by Assam (1.35 lakh ha), Nagaland (0.65 lakh ha) and other states with less than 0.5 lakh ha: This water bodies harbour diversified native ornamental fishes with large economic importance under natural condition. Major species having large number of ornamental fish belong to the Order Cypriniformes followed by Siluriformes and Perciformes. It has been estimated that neatly 200 species of ornamental fishes are exported from India, out of which 85 per cent are from north eastern states. The market opportunities of the locally ornamental fish species are rising gradually in both domestic as well as in international market. The price of native ornamental fishes varied in between Rs.5-100/- per piece in across the domestic market. The Freight on Board (FOB) price offered by the exporters for native ornamental fishes was observed to be varying from US$ 0.06 to as high as US$ 4.825 per piece. Most of the native ornamental fish species from north east region are highly preferred by the hobbyists across the globe (e.g., Botia dario, Channa barca, Puntius shalynius, Schistura sikmaiensis etc). It is easily understandable that the prices are high for those species, which are less abundant and vice versa. However, the prices of ornamental fishes vary widely depending on the steep competition among the suppliers and also on the quality of the fish. Many of the highly preferred native ornamental fish species (¢.g., Balitora brucei, Botia berdmorei, Ctenops nobilis, Hara hara etc) are becoming less abundant in the natural condition because of their overexploitation or degradation of water bodies and need urgent attention for their sustainable utilization. Interestingly, due to lack of steady supply of common omamental fishes; many new species (e.g., Olyra longicaudata, Pseudechenies sulcatus , Psilorhynchus balitora, Somileptes gongota, etc) are emerging as ornamental fishes and the trade opportunities of these species are increasing which is an added advantage to sustaining the agribusiness opportunity of this industry. With the initiatives by the Govt. such as providing incentive to establish ornamental fish production unit, considerable private investment can be attracted to this industry, which would create additional employment opportunities. With the concerted efforts by the Govt. as well as key institutions the ornamental fisheries can be developed substantially in the region, which in turn can gradually gain a larger share in the world market. Public- private partnership can be encouraged through establishment of omamental fish production units in various parts of the region to make the ornamental fishery sector more vibrant and remunerative, Jointly Organized by CIFE, Kolkata Centre and Directorate of Fisheries, Govt. of W.B.on2!Oct 2010 42