Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan inaugurates RAS established under PMMSY at Awantipor

What is the News?

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inaugurated the Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology for the culture of rainbow trout in the private sector under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana(PMMSY)

What is Recirculatory Aquaculture System(RAS) Technology?

This method is used for high- density culture of various species of fish, utilizing minimum land area and water. 

Under the Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) technology, water is recycled and reused after mechanical and biological filtration and removal of suspended matter and metabolites.

How RAC is different from other methods?

It is an intensive high-density fish culture, unlike other aquaculture production systems. In the traditional method, the fish is grown in open ponds and raceways. But, in RAS the fishes are typically reared in indoor/outdoor tanks in a controlled environment. 

What are the advantages of this method?

The RAS method has many advantages. Such as

i) Extended durability of tanks and equipment,

ii) Reduced dependency on antibiotics and therapeutants hence, an advantage of getting high-quality fish.

iii) Reduction of direct operational costs associated with feed, predator control and parasites.

iv) Risk reduction due to climatic factors, disease and parasite impacts

v) RAS production can promote flexibility in terms of location for farming, proximity to market.

What are the disadvantages of this method?

A constant uninterrupted power supply is required if electric power fails, then a backup of electricity is required.

The capital cost of starting a recirculating aquaculture system is high as compared to ponds and raceways. 

Source: This post is based on the article ”Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan inaugurates RAS established under PMMSY” published in ‘PIB’ on 10th October 2021.