President’s Profile

President’s Message

The hobby of ornamental fish keeping is becoming increasingly popular in all parts of the country including rural India. It is estimated that presently 1.25% of urban house-holds are keeping an aquarium either at home or work place which is expected to grow to 5.00% in next decade. It would be possible as both annual average per capita income (AAPCI) and number of Middle Income Group House-holds (MIGHh) that are considered important indicators of any developing economy, are continuously achieving higher peaks. The AAPCI was INR 53331 only in year 2011 which increased to INR 77826 in year 2015-16 and estimated to increase to INR 290000 in year 2026. Similarly, the number of MIGHh has increase from 31.4 million in year 2011 to 50.0 million in year 2015-16 and estimated to increase to 113.80 million in year 2025-26.

The MIGHh is considered to be the largest buyer of consumer goods in a developing country. Therefore, the domestic trade of ornamental fisheries which is presently estimated at about Rs.450 crore annually will grow to Rs.1200 crore in short span of 4-5 years and Rs. 3000 crore in 8-10 years. The domestic aquarium trade is also shifting from a traditional low profile aquarium shops to very highly modernized stores that are being managed by experienced and qualified fisheries professionals though still in limited numbers. A number of Public Aquarium Galleries have also come in existence during last 4-5 years in several parts of the country. The ornamental fisheries have also been identified as a thrust area of support by research and development institutions in the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India has allotted a budget of Rs. 61.98 crores during 2017-18 for development of this sector. It was about 1.5 times higher of the total amount spent on all the different ornamental fisheries developmental schemes by government agencies during last decade. The National Fisheries Development Board (MOA&FW), Hyderabad has formulated many schemes to support ornamental fisheries in the country under “Blue Revolution Scheme” while Agriculture Skill Council of India (National Skill Development Corporation) has identified it as an important field for skill development. The ornamental fishery is not limited to existing practices of ornamental fish production in a backyard facility and setting up of an aquarium shop.

The scope of entrepreneurship in ornamental fisheries has become very vast presently. It includes setting up of modernized facility for production of freshwater and marine ornamental fish, establishing a whole sale and retail aquarium trading store, setting up of an aquarium servicing unit, manufacturing of aquarium equipment’s and decorative, culture of live fish feed, cultivation of ornamental aquatic plants, collection of wild ornamental fish, export and import of ornamental fish, consultancy services etc. Hence, ornamental fisheries provide enormous opportunities for entrepreneurship development and lively-hood support in both urban and rural regions. A youth can set up his or her own ornamental fisheries-based business with very low initial investment after gaining proper knowledge or training of the subject from a recognized institution.

I wish that OFRTI could help large number of unemployed youths of the country to earn their lively-hood through ornamental fisheries.

1. Mathur, S.K., Jain, A.K. and Subbarao, P.V. 1984. An interdisciplinary approach to aquaculture with special reference to Damdama, Haryana. Journal of Indian Fisheries Association, 8 – 9 (1978 – 79): 37 – 43.
2. Jain, Atul K., Singh, R., Dwivedi, A. and Mitra, S.D. 1986. Role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita (Ham.), Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) and Catla catla (Ham.) at Damdam (Haryana), A semi-arid zone. Journal of Indian Fisheries Association. 14 & 15: 67 – 74.
3. Jain, Atul K. Rana, R. and Singh, S. 1987. Effect of hot water discharged from thermal power plants on carps breeding and hatching. Journal of Aquatic Organisms, 2(10): 19-23.
4. Somalingam, J., Langer, R.K., Yadav, A.K., Maheswari, U.K. and Jain, Atul K.1989.Morphology and morphometry of Intergeneric hybrid Catla catla (Ham.) X Labeo rohita (Ham.) F1 generation with their parents. Nature &  Environment, 6 : 1 – 5.
5. Jain, Atul K. and Mitra, S.D. 1989. Breeding of Indian major carps in the semi-arid zone of Haryana (India) under a controlled environment. Journal of Indian Fisheries Association., 19; 37-41.
6. Gopalkrishna, Fotedar, S and  Jain, Atul K. 1993. Karyotyping of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii., Journal of Indian Fisheries Association.
7. Jain, Atul K. And Mitra, S.D. 1994. Fecundity of Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala in semi-arid conditions. Journal of aquaculture in tropics, 9: 43-48.
8. Mishra, A., Jain, A. K. and Singh, S. P. 1998. Rate of spontaneous hybridization in mixed spawning of Indian Major Carps. In : (Ponniah, A. G., Das, P. and Verma, S. R.: eds) Fish genetics and biodiversity conservation., Nature Conservator Publication 05: 463-474.
9. Jain, A.K., Arasu, A.R.T. and Ayyappan, S. 2002. Environmental and social issues related to the development of saline-water aquaculture in inland regions of India. In (Eds: Sadasivan, S., Gurg, R.P., Sharma, L.L., Mahadevan, T.N., Eappen, K.P. and Saradhi and Saradhi, I.V.): Proceedings of the IX National Symposium on Environment, 5-7th June 2002, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India: 186-189.
10. Jain, A.K., and Raju, K.D., Girish Kumar 2003. A case study on the culture of Chanos chanos, Mugil cephalus and Macrobrachium rosenebrgii in saline groundwater at Dharma, Distt. Bharatpur, Rajasthan. In : (Eds: Garg, S.K. and Arasu, A.R.T.) proceedings of 3rd interaction workshop of National Agricultural Technology Project on “Fish production using brackish water in the arid ecosystem”, 17-18 December 2003 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India: 21-25.
11. Jain, A.K. and Marian, P. M. 2005. Brine shrimp Artemia disappears from its only inland saline resource in the Thar Desert. Journal of Biological Research. 3: 113-114.
12. Shakeeb-Ur-Rahman, Jain, A.K., Reddy, A.K., Girish Kumar and Raju, K.D.2005. Ionic manipulation on inland saline groundwater for enhancing survival and growth of Penaeus monodon. Aquaculture Research, 36: 1149-1156.
13. Jain, A.K., Girish Kumar, Raju, K.D. Culture of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in inland saline water. World Aquaculture 38:11-13.
14. Jain, A. K., Kumar, G. and Mukherjee, S. C. 2006. Survival and growth of early juveniles of barramundi, Lates calcarifer in inland saline groundwater. Journal of Biological Research 5: 93-97.
15. Jain, A.K., Raju, K.D., Girish Kumar, Ojha, P. K. and Reddy, A. K. 2007. Strategic manipulation of inland saline groundwater to produce Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) postlarvae. Journal of Biological Research 8: 151-157.

1. Jain, Atul K. 1986. Fish breeding in semi-arid zone, Damdama Fish Seed Farm, Haryana – A case study. India Today and Tomorrow, 11: 8.
2. Jain Atul, K. and Rakesh Kumar. 1989. Damdama Reservoir – A potential fisheries resource for Haryana. Fishing Chimes, 9 (4) : 65 – 66.
3. Jain Atul K. and Sunderray, K.J. 1994. Application of sex manipulation to Aquaculture. Fishing Chimes, 2 (1994) :
4. Gupta  A.  K. and  Jain,  Atul K.  1994. The occurrence of Tilapia in lake Jaisamand: A threat to indigenous fishery resources of Rajasthan.  Fishing Chimes, 15 (12) : 17.
5. Jain, Atul K. 1998. Fisheries resource management in Rajasthan: An overview of the present status and future scopes. Fishing Chimes, 17 (11) : 9 – 14.
6. Sahu, N. P. and Jain, A. K. 1998. Use of probiotics in fish culture (In Hindi), Jalchari (CIFE, Mumbai), 1: 49.
7.  Sahu, N. P. and Jain, A. K. 1999. Use of extruder technology for making fish feed (In Hindi), Jalchari (CIFE, Mumbai), 4: 23-24.
8. Sharma, L. L. and Jain, A. K. 2000. Fisheries education needs to be strengthened in Rajasthan for gainful exploitation of vast aquatic resources. Newsletter of Indian Society of Fisheries Professionals, Vol II (5): 11-12.
9. Jain, A.K., Raju, K.D. and Arasu, A.R.T. 2002. Saline water resources of Rajasthan and their suitability for brackishwater Aquaculture.  Fishing Chimes, April 2002.
10. Jain, A. K., 2009. India needs new generation public aquaria and oceanaria. Fishing Chimes., 29 (2): 39-43.
11. Jain, A. K. and Jain, A. 2009. The domestic aquarium trade is an avenue of immense opportunities and development potential. Proceedings of National Workshop on “Advances in Aquaculture and Fisheries: Perspectives, Prospects and Challenges” at Pragati Maidan New Delhi., 3rd July 2009: 93-99.
12. Jain, A. K., 2009. A unique weekly ornamental fish market, the Gallif street haat of Kolkatta. Fishing Chimes 29 (9): 32-33.

1. Jain, Atul K., Kumar, R., Singh.R. and Dwivedi, A. 1985. Use of HCG as a substitute for pituitary for fish breeding in semi-arid zone-A case History.  Workshop and demonstration Substitute for pituitary gland- HCG A possible alternative. 25 – 26th July 1985. FWFF, Balbhadrapuram (CIFE).
2. Jain, Atul K., Rana, R. and Singh, S. 1988. Use of waste heat discharged from thermal plants for carp seed production. National Workshop on Carp Seed Production Technology 2 – 4th Sep 1988. , Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch Elluru, India. (Abstract.)
3. Jain, Atul K. 1989. Economically viable scheme for carps seed production using hi-tech aquaculture – A case study of a recommended project and role of voluntary agencies. Workshop on curriculum development for voluntary agencies. 14 – 15th April, 89, New Delhi.
4. Raman, R.P., Oak, C.S., Jain, A.K. and Thakur, N.K. 1990. Present status of Epizootic ulcerative syndrome in India. National workshop on the epizootic ulcerative syndrome in fish., 6 – 7th March 1990, Calcutta, India.

5. Maheswari, U.K., Somalingam, J., Dubey, V.G. and Jain, A.K. 1990. Studies on the length-weight relationship, ponderal index and breeding of farm cultured Tawes Puntius javanicus (BLKR). In: National symposium on recent advances in hydrobiology., 26-28th Oct. 1990, Indore, India.
6. Jain, A.K., Dwivedi, A., Fotedar, S. and Hiwale, V.V. 1991. Ling Parivartan dwara machlion ka behtar utpadan (article in Hindi on “Better fish production through sex change techniques”). All India Symposium on Matsyiki Ke Badhate Charan, CIFE, 13 (9): 31.
7. Jain, Atul K. and Jain, K.K. 1991. Maharashtra rajya ke vidarbha kshetra mein sthapit Chinese hatchery ke karya pranali se sambandhit samasya aur unka samadhan ( article in Hindi on “Problems of the chinese hatchery in Maharashtra and their solutions”).Ibid: 30.
8. Jain, Atul K. and Yadav, A.K. 1992.  Assessment of fish yield, catch composition and fishery of a reservoir receiving cooling water effluents of a thermal power plant, Sarni (M.P.) India.  National seminar on Toxicology Conservation and Biodiversity,  27-29th Dec 1992, Academy of Environment Biology,  Meerut, India: 137 (Abstract).
9. Mishra, A. and Jain, Atul K. 1993.  The annual rate of inbreeding of Indian major carps in two representative fish hatcheries of UP and their comparative growth evaluation with riverine stock.  Third Asian Fisheries Forum, G.B.Pant Nagar University, Pant Nagar (U.P.), October 1993.
10. Jain, Atul K. 1997.  Impact of the appearance of Oreochromis mossambicus on the fish yield catch composition and native fauna of lake  Jaisamand, Rajasthan.   National seminar on  “Changing the perspective of   Inland  Fisheries of India”. 16-17th  March,  CICFRI,  Barrackpore, India: 31 (Abstract)
11. Kohli, M.P.S. and Jain, Atul K. 1999. Fisheries resources of Rajasthan and their fish production potential – Approaches for sustainable development. 4th Agricultural Science Congress on sustainable agricultural export. 21 – 24th February 1999 Jaipur, India.
12. Kohli, M.P.S. and Jain, Atul K. 1999. Fish production trend of lake Jaisamand (Rajasthan): A major threat to sustainable fish production. National symposium on “Sustainable development of fisheries towards 2020 AD – Opportunities and challenges. 21 – 23 April 1999.  Kochi, India :  21 – 22 (Abstract).
13. Jain, A. K. and Gadhia, M. 2000. Applicability of principal component analysis to estimate a hybrid index of intergeneric hybrid of Catla catla (male) and Labeo rohita (female)., National conference on “Fisheries biotechnology” 4-5th March 2000, CIFE, Mumbai: 49 (Abstract).
14. Jain, A.K. 2000. Possibilities of fish culture in saline soils and waters of arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. National seminar on “Utilisation of saline soils for aquaculture” (In Hindi), 23-24th March 2000 Rohtak (Haryana): 8 (Abstract).
15. Gopal, K., Lakra, W. S. and Jain, A. K. 2000. The utilisation of brackishwater fisheries research in saline soil aquaculture. Ibid: 34 (Abstract).
16. Zaidi, S. G. S. and Jain, A. K. 2000. Rearing of larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in underground saline water. Ibid: 40 (Abstract).
17.  Zaidi, S. G. S. and Jain, A. K. 2000. effect of underground saline water on the breeding of black molly. Ibid: 41 (Abstract).
18. Jain, A. K. 2000. Impact of entry of tilapia fish on the fisheries of lake Jaisamand in district Udaipur, Rajasthan (In Hind), National Seminar on Aquaculture and Environment, 10-11th August 2000, CIFE Lucknow: 84 (Abstract).

19. Jain, A.K. 2000. The utilisation of saline soils and underground saline water for brackishwater aquaculture in arid agroecosystem of Rajasthan. First Indian Fisheries Science Congress, 21-23rd Sep. 2000, Chandigarh (India): 84 (Abstract).
20. Jain, A.K., Raju, K.D. and Arasu, A.R.T. 2001. Assessment of saline water resources of Rajasthan and their suitability for fish production. International Symposium on “Fish for nutritional security in the 21st Century. 4-6th December 2001, CIFE, Mumbai: 309 (Abstract).
21. Jain, A.K., Arasu, A.R.T. and Ayyappan, S. 2002. Environmental and social issues related to the development of saline-water aquaculture in inland regions of India. IX National Symposium on Environment, 5-7th June 2002, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India: 186-189.
22. Jain, A.K., Hudda, R.S., Anoop Kumar, Girish Kumar and Raju, K.D. 2002. Aquaculture development in waterlogged and saline water regions of IGMN command area of north-west Rajasthan (India). Second Indian Fisheries Science Congress, 23-25th October 2002, Bhopal (M.P.), India: 46 (Abstract)
23. Jain, A.K., Girish Kumar and Raju, K.D. 2002. Chemistry of inland saline groundwater of semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan in relation to aquaculture. Sixth Indian Fisheries Forum, 17-20th December, CIFE, Mumbai, India: 108 (Abstract).
24. Jain, A.K. Rahman, S., Raju, K.D. and Girish Kumar 2002. 96-h bioassay of Penaeus monodon in inland saline groundwater of Pali, Rajasthan. Sixth Indian Fisheries Forum, 17-20th December, CIFE, Mumbai, India: 114 (Abstract).
25. Jain, A.K., and Raju, K.D., Girish Kumar 2003. A case study on the culture of Chanos chanos, Mugil cephalus and Macrobrachium rosenebrgii in saline groundwater at Dhurmai, Distt. Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 3rd interaction workshop of National Agricultural Technology Project on “Fish production using brackish water in the arid ecosystem”, 17-18 December 2003 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India: 21-25.
26. Jain, A.K. Mukherjee, S.C. and Ayyappan, S. 2003. Prioritization of research in inland saline water aquaculture. 3rd interaction workshop of National Agricultural Technology Project on “Fish production using brackish water in the arid ecosystem”, 17-18 December 2003 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India: 138 (Abstract).
27. Jain, A.K., Girish Kumar, Raju, K.D. and Arasu, A.R.T. 2004.  The growth potential of mugil cephalus in two inland saline water ponds of different salinities. 7th Asian Fisheries Forum. 30th Nov.-4th Dec. 2004. Penang, Malaysia (Abstract).
28. Jain, A. K., Girish Kumar and Raju, K. D. 2004. Diversity in chemical characteristics of saline water with reference to Aquaculture. National symposium on management of aquatic resources for biodiversity maintenance and conservation. 2-4th February 2004, JNV University, Jodhpur:93 (Abstract).