Title : Small Indigenous Fresh water Fishes (SIFFs) of the Western Ghats of India, a rich source of nutrition
Abstract:
The small indigenous fish species (SIFFs) are those species which can grow maximum to a length of 25-30 cm in the mature or adult stage of their lifecycle (Felt et al., 1996). India is blessed with a rich diversity of fresh water fishes both in the Western Ghats (WG) and North Eastern Hills. About 765 species are reported to have from freshwater and out of this 450 species are categorized as small indigenous fishes (SIS). These small fishes (SIFFs) are important sources of micronutrients (especially Ca, Mg and P) and are also cheap sources of high quality animal proteins. There are about 300 species of fresh water fishes in the Western Ghats alone of which half of them are small sized. Because of their large inhabitants and high abundance, they comprise a significant assemblage of the total finfish population in the inland capture and culture fisheries production. In the 1970s, most fish farmers “cleaned” their ponds with pesticides. This expensive practice was to eliminate competition from the small, lower yielding small indigenous fresh water (named as “weed fish”) species before farmers stocked their ponds with more marketable fish such as carp or tilapia. Contrary to popular belief at the time, small fish did not compete with large fish for space or food. Instead, the approach increased total productivity by as much as five times, as well as enhancing species diversity and nutritional value of the production.
People in the villages consume more SIFF compared than the urban counterpart as these fishes do not have good market demand as compared to the major carps and other large fishes but plenty available from local water bodies may serve as an alternative source of quality dietary proteins in rural food and nutrition. Thus, the SIFF can play a key role in preventing the widespread micronutrient deficiencies and allied diseases. Though small indigenous fish species (SIFFs) are nutrient dense, they are often overlooked in developing nations (Roos et al., 2007). Earlier they were called as trash fish or miscellaneous fish, but nowadays, it is preferred by all classes of society. As a result, the people with low income who are unable to afford costly species such as carp, there is an increasing demand for small indigenous fishes. As far as public health is concerned, it is essential to be acquainted with the nutrient profile of the small indigenous fish species from the WG of India. It is useful to know their nutritive significance in terms of food, nutritional security and poverty alleviation. So far, very few published information is available on the proximate composition and nutrient profile of small indigenous fish species (SIFFs) of the WG of India. Considering the importance of the small indigenous fishes, a study is initiated at the department of Aquaculture of the Sacred Heart College to document comprehensive nutrient profiles with a specific focus on important small indigenous species (SIFFs) available in the Kerala state of South India. In the present paper proximate composition and nutrient profile of five SIFFs is presented.
