Tripura: Government-run college is working hard to scientifically produce giant prawns

An initial look at the fishlings moving aimlessly in the specially-designed water tanks might drive someone to feel these are nothing but mosquito larva as we see them in the filthy drainages of the city, but in reality they are the freshwater prawns produced by using artificial methods, reports East Mojo.

Hirak Sarkar, a fishery officer who heads the facility, told the news portal that by nature Tripura is not suitable for breeding fresh water prawns and hence scientific intervention is needed for prawn cultivation.

“The fresh water prawns are a very unique species. They stay in fresh water but breed in maritime water. Being a landlocked state, we don’t have direct contact with sea geographically, which is why we are preparing the maritime water artificially to make the animal feel he is in the suitable condition of spawning. The eggs are preserved and after it reaches the juvenile stage, fish farmers are allowed to take them for further rearing in the bigger aquatic atmosphere such as ponds and lakes,” Sarkar told EastMojo.

The prawns are quite popular in Tripura fish market.

The price of it in the markets ranges from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,600 per kg.