eChapters

Introduction

Microbial inoculants are “microorganisms that are added to soils or plant surfaces to promote plant growth and health”. These microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that have beneficial effects on plants. They have been used in agriculture for many years to improve plant growth and health. They can be used in various ways, including in seed treatments, soil inoculation, and foliar sprays. They work by colonising the root zone or plant surface and providing a range of benefits to the plant. These benefits include nutrient acquisition, disease suppression, and stress tolerance (Callaghan., 2022). Ultimately, their application in agriculture is to increase crop yields, improve soil health, reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and generate sustainable income for farmers. The microbial inoculant market size is expected to generate revenue of USD 24.6 billion by 2027 and is estimated to be valued at USD 12.9 billion in 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7% from 2022 to 2027. (Markets and Markets: Global Forecast Report 2022–2027). The biofertilizers market in India is estimated to increase from $110.07 million in 2022 to $243.61 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 12.02% during the forecast period (Biofertilizers market Size: Global analysis, 2029). This chapter discusses the use of microbial inoculants in agriculture and their potential as an income-generating tool for farmers.

Introduction

In 2030, 289 MT of food grain production will be needed in India, whereas 349 MT would be needed in 2050. India's agriculture is now facing several problems, including the well-being of farmers, deteriorating soil health, stagnant productivity, a declining water table, soil salinity, a decline in factor productivity, and the need to limit further expansion of irrigated land. The livelihoods of millions of small farmers are in peril because of ecologically destructive and unsustainable agricultural practices. Growing countries must increase their agricultural production systems to boost their economies, food supplies, and food and nutritional security (Gill et al., 2005). Previous research initiatives in Indian agriculture that focused on a single company were inadequate to ensure sustained increases in production. Among the f inest choices for low-income farmers is the integrated agriculture system (IFS). With IFS, several farm operations may be streamlined to increase productivity and income. Agricultural waste and trash are also recycled on the property. It is essential that farmers have a reliable source of income if they want to raise their living standards beyond the poverty level. To deal with the challenges of the current economic, political, and technological environments, it is vital to progress production or consistently raise output.

Introduction

Most of India's population, which lives in rural areas and is largely uneducated and unskilled, is unable to compete in the employment market generated by the expansion of the service industry. They are therefore reliant on the agricultural sector for their means of subsistence. Even in the modern era, the agriculture industry is still a significant source of employment, as it employs more than fifty percent of the labour force. The cyclical and seasonal character of unemployment is made worse by the fact that agriculture is inherently seasonal and that there are insufficient irrigation facilities.

A significant portion of the labour force used in agriculture is of a secretive character. Even though they provide the appearance of having a job, their marginal production is zero. Even if some of the younger people living in rural farm communities want to move away from primary agricultural production activities and towards secondary agricultural and agribusiness pursuits, it is possible that the current level of agricultural production will not be impacted in any way (Shivacharan et al., 2017). This led to a focus on seeing agriculture as a commercialization aspect for improving the economic aspects of the people who aspire to entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector.

“Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services” (GFRAS) defines “Agripreneur ship as an entrepreneurship activity practiced by individual who aims to cre ate wealth by applying innovative skills within the agriculture industries”. As mentioned, agribusiness entrepreneurship is a relevant solution that may be implemented throughout the agricultural value chain.

Introduction

Sericulture is regarded as a significant rural and cottage industry in India. It can generate more income in addition to agricultural crops. Although being viewed as a secondary occupation, sericulture may now be practiced on a large scale due to technological advancements. Since it provides a steady source of revenue, cocoon production and cultivation could be seen as a vital economic tool for the improvement of rural communities. It spreads its welfare-raising distributive impact both in the rural and urban sectors of society throughout its vertical process of production (from the rearing of silkworms to the fabrication of silk goods). Although farmers in rural regions engage in sericulture operations, most of the silk is produced in urban towns and cities through weaving. As a result, silk and sericulture are interconnected with both the agrarian and cottage industries, having a broad-based distributive effect on the creation of jobs and revenue. The employment generation pattern of the sericulture sector has been divided into two main categories by the Indian Sericulture Industry: 1) Direct employment, which includes mulberry cultivation, leaf harvesting, and silkworm rearing. 2) Indirect employment examples include reeling, twisting, weaving, printing, dyeing, finishing, and processing silk waste.

Introduction Insects are the largest group of individuals in the phylum Arthropoda. They are the most dominant species on earth, as they originated 480 million years ago. Insects account for damage to agriculture produced through pest incidence; they also render benefits through pollination services, reduction in pest population as natural enemies, and various other services. Utilisation of beneficial insects like silkworms, honeybees, and lac insects for their products was well known to Indian people way back. In the current chapter, opportunities for the utilisation of some of these beneficial insects for emerging businesses are discussed.

Insect farming

By 2050, there will be a 60% increase in the global need for proteins, driven by the unrelenting growth of the human population. What is very disturbing is that present protein manufacturing uses very unsustainable methods, in addition to this exponential increase. The ecosystem is under a lot of stress from traditional farming practices, which also contribute to the loss of already depleted wild fish species and water supplies. By 2050, there will be 10 billion people on the planet, and to feed them sustainably, new farming options such as insect farming will be necessary. Due to their rapid rates of reproduction and high protein content, insects are extremely simple to produce (Igini, 2022).

Introduction

India is the largest banana producer in the world. They grow bananas on an area of 9 million hectares and get 36 MT per hectare. India exported 2,000,000 MT of banana worth $1 billion to other nations. The banana production system supports the labour market, alternative food system, export eco-system, and nutritional security, among other things. The development of climate-resilient banana varieties, tissue culture protocols, macro-propagation, ornamental bananas, micronutrient mixtures, site-specific nutrient management, biocontrol agents for pest and disease control, robust virus diagnostic kits, and so on are all highly recommended and encouraged to make the banana industry sustainable and profitable in the long run. Technologies and products for use after harvest are also vital. Branding, supporting entrepreneurship via incubation platforms, marketing intelligence, and handholding for technical support are necessary to sustain banana production and drive value addition. Bananas and plantains, more than any other fruit or vegetable, constitute a staple food for millions of people worldwide and contribute to a healthy diet. In addition to carbohydrates, it's a wonderful source of potassium, vitamins, and minerals. The fat-free fruit has a calorie count of 90 per 100 grams. Dessert bananas are normally eaten raw, while plantains or cooking bananas are commonly prepared in a variety of savoury ways, such as boiling, steaming, frying, or roasting. The banana industry has expanded in recent years, making a greater contribution to the economy in terms of both employment and food supply.

Introduction

The vast natural and cultural resources of India contribute to the country's abundant growth. Taking advantage of this, the tourist industry in India has experienced one of the most rapid growth rates seen anywhere in the world. The travel and tourism industry accounts for a significant portion of overall economic growth around the world, and over the past nine years, India's rate of economic expansion has consistently been higher than that of the whole economy. In 2019, the sector expanded at a pace of 3.5 percent, which was much higher than the world GDP growth rate of 2.5 percent. The tourist industry has a considerable bearing on India's overall economic performance. India is ranked as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) disclosed information indicating that the Indian tourism sector contributed INR 194 billion to India's GDP in 2019. Additionally, the tourism industry in India supported 87.5 million jobs, which accounted for 12.75 percent of total employment. However, for the past two years, due to COVID-19, the tourism sector worldwide, as well as in India, has faced huge losses and is in distress. So, it’s the right time to focus on developing tourism under different wings.

Introduction

With the growing population, increase in demand, and per capita income, tremendous pressure is put on the supply side, pushing them to rely on unsustainable practices to meet this existing and future demand. Compromising on sustainability has not only been responsible for climate change but also other negative environmental externalities. The modern agricultural corporate structure known as agribusiness, which can introduce sustainable and innovative technology into the agricultural sector, would pave the way for achieving all the sustainability dimensions, viz., social, economic, and environmental. With this expanding agribusiness sector, farmers can create a win-win alliance that maintains environmental harmony and financial success. There seems to be a huge scope to achieve sustainability goals well in advance by exploring the pathways with the help of the agri-business sector.

As the global population continues to grow, there will be an ever-increasing demand placed on the agricultural industry to provide more food as well as other raw materials. It is anticipated that farmers will need to produce 70% more food than is currently cultivated to feed up to 10 billion people by the year 2055 (Alexandratos & Bruinsma, 2012). However, the situation is aggravated due to shrinking cultivated areas, depletion of natural resources, higher production costs, fewer farmers, and climatic changes. We are in the middle of a perfect storm of social, economic, and environmental pressures on the food supply around the world. Along with the increasing production and productivity, it has to be taken care of that the natural resources and environment are not exploited indiscriminately. Agriculture is both a threat to climate change and a possible way to stop it. Therefore, sustainability in agriculture is the only way forward. This commitment rests not only with the governments but with all the players in the agricultural supply chain. A holistic approach that concurrently tackles issues of environmental integrity, social equality, and economic prosperity is what we mean when we talk about sustainability. Over the course of the previous few decades, its significance to businesses operating in virtually all fields has grown substantially.

Introduction

Farmers Producer Organisations are associations of farmers and other rural producers formed based on membership to advance the members' common interests, engage in mutually beneficial technical and economic activities, and foster and sustain relationships with other organisations active in the same economic and institutional sphere. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) are a way for farmers, especially those on the margins of the industry, to band together and establish a strong front against the myriad problems plaguing the agricultural sector, including a lack of capital, knowledge, and access to markets. To better organise farmers, increase their ability to pool their resources, and increase their competitive edge in the marketplace, the Indian government's Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) has determined that Farmer Producer Organisations incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 are the best vehicle for doing so.

Background

More than 85% of India's 12.5 million agricultural households are classified as small and marginal farmers because they own less than two hectares of land. Every farmer, on average, owns 1.33 hectares of land. For farmers, investing in cutting-edge farming techniques and high-yielding inputs like seeds and fertiliser is simply not feasible in the current economic climate. They also don't make much money off their marketable surplus when they sell it off piece by piece. One strategy for farmers to reduce the cost of inputs and increase their bargaining position in the marketplace is to form Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Introduction

According to the “Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies (MACS) Act” of 1995 or as a “Farmers Producer Corporation” (FPC) under the “Companies Act” of 2013, a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is often a society or company made up of farmers who are actual producers of a specific crop or commodities. Depending on the demands of the producers and the demand potential to adopt a value chain approach to boost farmers' and producers' economic and social benefits, these organisations are established at the cluster, block, district, or state level. The Indian government, state governments, development organisations, and central institutions have recently placed a greater emphasis on farmer-producer firms. Many of the nations’ Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been aiding in the development of cooperatives and farmer-producer organisations.

Steps in formulation of FPOs

1. Preliminary Assessment and Need Identification

• Identify the group of farmers interested in forming an FPO.

• Conduct a preliminary assessment of the needs, resources, and aspirations of the farmers in the target area.

• Determine the type of products or crops that the FPO will focus on.

Introduction Farmer Producer Company (FPC) is a dynamic form of farmer collective that enables strong backward and forward linkage to the member farmer, leading to enhanced socio-economic status amongst the farming community. As of March 31, 2019, there were 7,374 FPCs with a total of 860.18 crore in Paid-Up Capital (PUC). With a budget of 6,865 crore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare announced in 2021 central scheme to support 10,000 farmer producer organisations. The Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and f lagship programmes like the Agriculture Investment Fund (AIF) have all contributed to expanding farmers' access to capital (www.livemint.com).

FPCs are effective tools that give smallholder farmers more influence over the trading markets. This improves agricultural output and raises the revenues of small-scale farmers. To fully realise the potential of FPCs, cluster-based business organisations must acknowledge the inherent difficulties that they face and understand how to avoid common management mistakes.

Branding scenario of successful FPCs

There have been very few Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in India that have been running their businesses professionally and have become sustainable organisations over the years with well-established market linkages. Sahyadri Farmer Producer Company (Nashik, Maharashtra), Indian Organic Producer Company (Kerala), Bhangar Vegetable Producer Company (West Bengal), Madhya Pradesh Women’s Poultry Producer Company Pvt. Ltd. (Madhya Pradesh), Nachalur Farmers Producer Company Limited (Tamil Nadu), Maha Gujarat Agri Cotton Producer Company Ltd. (Gujarat), etc. are some of them, to name a few. A lot of sincere efforts have been put into strengthening their marketing linkages, viz. grading, processing, packaging, branding, distribution, etc. All the FPCs have been able to garner a significant market share because of their immaculate branding exercise. Their success has proved the fact that mere branding won’t guarantee large-scale consumer acceptance and it is brand positioning which is the required engine to drag the product towards consumers.

Introduction

Agri-entrepreneurship stands as a vital driver of socio-economic upliftment within society, offering a range of benefits that span from poverty reduction to rural development. In economies, where agriculture remains a cornerstone (Welter, 2011), fostering entrepreneurship in this sector can lead to substantial improvements in livelihoods, income generation, and overall economic growth (Watson, 2013). With support from relevant statistics and references, this article discusses the importance of agri-entrepreneurship.

Economic Growth and Job Creation: Agri-entrepreneurship contributes significantly to economic growth. According to the World Bank, agriculture employs over 25% of the world's labour force and accounts for a substantial portion of GDP in many developing countries. Encouraging agri-entrepreneurs to innovate and invest can lead to the creation of diverse agricultural enterprises, generating employment opportunities both on and off the farm. This, in turn, reduces unemployment rates and drives local economic development (Stam, 2016; Welter & Gartner, 2016).

Poverty Alleviation: Rural poverty remains a significant challenge in many developing nations, where a substantial portion of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Agri-entrepreneurship empowers individuals to break free from subsistence farming and embrace value-added activities. By fostering innovation, diversification, and access to markets, agri entrepreneurship enables farmers to increase their income and improve their quality of life (Shane, 2007). According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), smallholder farmers, when equipped with entrepreneurial skills, are better positioned to escape poverty cycles.

Introduction

The cultivation of flowering and attractive plants is referred to as floriculture, sometimes known as flower farming. Even though flowers have long been planted in India for a variety of purposes, including aesthetic, social, and religious purposes, the commercial floriculture sector is a relatively recent development.

The industry of floriculture has a great deal of untapped potential and has quickly become an essential part of modern life. The floriculture industry has developed into a business that is run for profit, has achieved significant market value, and is poised to realise favourable prospects. In India, the cultivation of blooming plants, including garden plants, cut flowers, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, and other types of blooming plants, is referred to as f loriculture. In today's world, flowering or ornamental plants are frequently used as part of several celebrations' decorations or as presents due to their versatility. They are also used as vital raw materials in the sectors of perfume, pharmaceuticals, and oil extraction. So, to start a floriculture firm in India, it is necessary to comprehend how agribusiness is used in its marketing and production.

Introduction

In the past, when television sets entered almost every household and there was a set of TV channels that broadcasted news, daily soaps, songs, etc., a channel named "Discovery" entered the market and soon became very popular among all age groups due to the scientific documentaries that it broadcasted and soon enough took over the market. It's obvious to the eyes that they created something unique, innovative, and possessing utility. The success behind the TV channel was that it tapped the uncontested market and hence had no other channel of its kind to compete with. They created a new niche, and based on this, they generated huge profits, success, and popularity. This strategy is very famous today in the name of the “Blue Ocean Strategy” introduced by Kim and Mauborgne (2005). The same strategy has immense potential in alleviating the agripreneurial ventures wherein the greater homogeneity of the products brings in an issue of increased competition. Hence, being creative and innovative on the part of entrepreneurs can open greater avenues for new products in the market, wherein the new product may benefit from the uncontesting environment in the market.

Introduction

Secondary agriculture is described as an enterprise-level productive activity that uses as raw material the primary product and byproducts of agriculture, as well as other biological resources available locally in its rural agrarian neighbourhood. The Government of India's Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI, Vol. IX, 2018) raised the issue of food waste and loss and proposed secondary agriculture. The committee classified secondary agriculture into three types: A, B, and C. Type 'A' avenues focus on adding value to primary agriculture production systems, either as input or output; Type B avenues focus on alternative firms that do not compete for resources; and Type C avenues focus on primary agriculture crop residues and wastes (Singh et al., 2022).

Sustainable development goals want to link primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors by using idle factors of production like land and labour. Promoting secondary agriculture can help reach these goals by increasing production in primary agriculture, capturing "value" in primary agricultural activities, and making businesses more money (Financial Express, 2019).

In this chapter, four opportunities for income augmentation in secondary agriculture, viz. plant nursery enterprise, herbal gulal farming, mushroom farming and beekeeping, have been explained.

Introduction

Agribusiness refers to the industry that deals with farming and the selling of agricultural products, including the cultivation of crops, their processing, and their distribution to retailers. Producing and distributing crops, agrichemicals, fodder, breeding, farm equipment, seed supply, raw and processed commodities of food and fibre, warehousing, transporting, packing, marketing, retailing, soil testing, and testing for nutrient deficiencies are all part of the agribusiness industry.

It's important for an excellent brand name to provide a solid basis on which a company can grow. Companies need to identify who they are trying to sell to. Will people have no trouble pronouncing it? The tongue shouldn't have to work too hard to say it. Can you pronounce the name easily? Your brand name needs to be audible to consumers. Have you tested the name's spelling ability?

Choosing what aspect of agriculture or agribusiness you want to enter is the f irst step. So, you can't make a call like this until you have a firm grasp on your company's long-term goals, operational strategy, and financial situation. You can still enter the market if you aren't an expert in the equipment, products, grains, soil, seeds, or plants involved; nevertheless, you should go in with your eyes wide open, a well-thought-out business plan, and a competent team.

Introduction

The smooth functioning of an organisation depends on its financial resources. For a newly established venture, it is important to accurately predict its financial requirements for the purpose of raising funds and assessing the profitability of the proposal. While the major investment in an organisation could be for short term and long-term purposes, there are multiple sources from which these funds could be raised. The conventional sources mainly include commercial banks and other financial institutions; non-conventional sources include lease financing, angel investors, venture capitalist firms, factoring, and bill discounting.

Finance is the basic requirement for the smooth functioning of any organisation. Finance is required to meet the short-term and long-term requirements of a f irm. While the short-term fund is required to meet day-to-day expenses, long term funds are required for the acquisition of long-term or fixed assets that would yield benefits in the future, financing the permanent part of working capital, and for the growth and expansion of a business.

The quantum of both finances depends upon the nature and size of the business’s organisation, and the sources from which one acquires these funds also have a multi-dimensional range.

Introduction

Business planning is required to meet the expectations of the future of any business and to meet the expected or unexpected obstacles that the future may hold. In the absence of a proper business plan, any business tends to fail. Not many are aware of the importance of preparing a good business plan. A good plan not only helps in planning as per the expected outcomes, but it also aids in seeking the right funds and bringing favourable investment into the business. However, the question remains: how to prepare an effective business plan. To aid in business planning, many use a Business Model Canvas. A Business Model Canvas or BMC (Figure 1), is a tool that represents different organisational components briefly in a very creative way. These components create the value of any organisation. The BMC is a strategy tool that also analyses the business situation of an existing business. There are nine components of a BMC, which are also referred to as the building blocks of an organisation. These are customer segments, Proposition, Channels, Customer Relationships, Key Resources, Key Activities, Key Partners, Cost Structure, and Revenue Structure. If BMC is prepared well, there are good chances that the Business plan will be developed well, which reduces the chances of failure in business. At the same time, it helps the business sail through the competitive environment smoothly and stay sustainable in the long run (Johnson, 2020).

Introduction

The global food system is anticipated to supply safe and nutritious food to a population that is expected to increase from 7.5 billion now to approximately 10 billion by 2050. Not only will there be more mouths to feed, but as incomes rise in rising and developing nations, demand for meat, fish, and dairy will rise as well (Brooks et al., 2019). Demand for agricultural commodities is rising rapidly as the world's population grows. Agriculture’s deep connections to the world economy, human societies, and biodiversity make it one of the most important frontiers for conservation around the globe (world wildlife).

Today's connected world has given entrepreneurs millions of new places to start small businesses, and the Internet has a lot of information to help them. Also, the internet has made it easier for business owners to connect with their peers, learn from their mistakes, and use their good decisions as a guide for their paths.

Introduction

In the past few decades, the shrimp aquaculture industry has become an increasing disease challenge, impacting huge economic losses and sustainable development. Viruses, bacteria, and microsporidian parasites are major pathogens that threaten shrimp healthcare and currently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens, and fungi have emerging diseases in the shrimp industry worldwide.

Naturally, invertebrate crustaceans, including shrimp, depend on nonspecific immune responses mainly involved by haemolymph and hemocytic cells. A cellular immune process involving phagocytosis, encapsulation, nodulation, and prophenol oxidase leads to melanin synthesis and humoral responses such as secretion of clotting protein, enzyme inhibitors, antioxidant enzymes and antimicrobial peptides for killing or resistance against invading pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionary conserved small peptide molecules ubiquitously found in all living organisms. AMPs are an integral part of the innate immune system in various organisms. These peptides have a broad spectrum of inhibitory effects against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Shrimp AMPs are short, molecular weight of less than 13 kDa, possess diverse structures, sizes, and biochemical features, and have an amphipathic structure with cationic or anionic properties that selectively target the negatively charged membranes of microbes.

Introduction

The organism’s defence against infection is provided by the intricate network of organs, cells, and proteins that make up the immune system. In general, there are two types of immunological responses seen in vertebrates: the innate and adaptive immune systems. Innate immunity is the first line of defence against any foreign molecule or pathogenic invasion. Innate immunity can be classified into physical barriers, cellular and humoral factors. The physical barriers such as scales, skin, gill, gastrointestinal tract and mucus are used to prevent entry of pathogens into the body. Fish mucus contains different enzymes, complement proteins, antimicrobial peptides and IgM that are efficient in trapping and killing of pathogens (Magnadóttir B. 2006). Cellular components of an innate immune system include a variety of immune cells like macrophages, neutrophils, opsonins, lymphokines, natural cytotoxic cells, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, eicosanoids and cytokines. They play different roles in innate immunity with their own specific pathways to prevent pathogens in the host body. Humoral factors include growth inhibitor proteins like transferrin, interferons, enzyme inhibitors, lysin, C-reactive proteins, lectins and lysozymes (Secombes and Belmonte, 2016; Roberts, 2012).

Introduction

Aquaculture, involving the cultivation of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic plants, has become indispensable for global food security and employment. However, the intensification of aquaculture practices, characterized by high stocking densities, has led to increased stress among farmed organisms, which in turn makes them more susceptible to diseases. Disease outbreaks in aquaculture can have devastating effects, necessitating both prophylactic and therapeutic measures to maintain the health and productivity of these organisms.

Prophylactic measures, such as vaccines and immunostimulants, play a vital role in preventing disease outbreaks. For instance, vaccines targeting common bacterial pathogens like Aeromonas hydrophila are widely used in fish farming. Immunostimulants like beta-glucans are also administered to enhance the immune response of aquatic organisms. On the therapeutic front, antibiotics remain the most commonly used agents to treat infections once they occur. However, the extensive use of antibiotics has led to several significant issues. Firstly, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major concern, with the excessive use of antibiotics in aquaculture contributing to the development of resistant bacterial strains. These resistant pathogens can spread to other aquatic organisms and humans, posing a serious public health risk. Secondly, the presence of antibiotic residues in seafood can lead to export rejections, as many countries enforce strict regulations on such residues. This can result in considerable economic losses for aquaculture producers. Lastly, residual antibiotics in seafood can cause allergic reactions in consumers and contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Introduction

Aquaculture stands as the swiftest expanding sector within the food industry, with an escalating per capita consumption of fish-derived animal protein. India, as the world's third-largest fish producer, contributes significantly to this trend, boasting a fish production of 16.24 million tons, which corresponds to 8% of the global fish production. Nevertheless, several challenges persist and must be addressed, including the absence of species-specific or functional feeds, the dearth of genetically modified strains or breeds, the availability of high-quality fish species, and the rising incidence of fish diseases. Recent strides in "omics" technologies have furnished a potent toolkit and conceptual framework that enables the comprehensive dissection of the phenotypic and functional networks of genes and proteins within cells or organisms (Mohanty et al., 2019). This innovative research domain has spawned technological advancements that harness the power of "omics" to scrutinize diverse biological systems (Ning and Lo, 2010). The integration of "omics" in aquaculture research has effectively surmounted numerous challenges related to production and reproduction, thereby ensuring its relevance and economic viability. This technology empowers researchers to analyze an array of molecules on a massive scale, marking an early and groundbreaking technological leap forward in this field.

Introduction

Aquatic habitats are essential to preserving the delicate balance of life in the complex web of ecosystems that make up our world. We must investigate novel and sustainable strategies to maintain the health and vigour of aquatic species because we are the custodians of these delicate ecosystems. In the course of this endeavour, an intriguing chapter titled "Green Medicine for Aquatic Wellness: Phytotherapy as a Promising Approach to Fish Health Management" is presented. A world filled with different aquatic life exists within the glittering depths of our lakes, rivers, and seas. Each species is a vital component of the aquatic ecology, from the colourful tropical fish that adorn coral reefs to the hardy creatures that live in freshwater streams. The peace of their environments might be disturbed by a number of diseases that these animals are prone to, just like any other living thing.

Introduction

Seafood demand has grown over the years due to its numerous nutritional advantages, acting as a primary contributor to global nutritional security, and the industry supports the livelihood of several million people. Persistent growth in demand for animal protein keeps the fisheries and aquaculture an important role. The average annual seafood demand growth across countries varies between 6 % and 7.5% (Kidane et al., 2021). Hence, Increased fish production, increased the per-capita fish consumption of the respective country (Garlock et al., 2022). Global average fish consumption has increased from 9.9 kg in 1961 to 20.5 kg in 2019 (FAO, 2022). The coastal countries of Iceland and Maldives are leading in per capita fish consumption with 92 kg and 85 kg respectively. While, landlocked countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Tajikistan are the least in per capita fish consumption with less than 1 kg of fish per annum. The leading fish producers China (39 kg) and India (6.8 kg) positioned 7th and 15th place respectively in 2019 (World Economic Forum, 2022). India plays a significant role in export as like production with a global share of 5.2 % after Norway (10.4 %) and China (8.6 %). Shrimp is the primary commodity of export in India’s seafood basket with a share of 25 % of the World’s shrimp export next to Ecuador (44 %) during 2021-22. Frozen f ish is the second largest exportable item of India’s seafood export which contributed 22 % in quantity and 8.6 % in earnings next to frozen shrimp with 41 % in quantity and 67 % in export earnings. Followed by frozen cuttlefish & squid and dried items had an export share of 9 % and 5 % respectively during 2022-23 (MPEDA, 2023). Shrimp farming in India is also extending from 1.17 lakh hectares during 2010-11 to 1.67 lakh hectares during 2020-21 in India with production of 1.3 lakh tons to 8.4 lakh tons of shrimps respectively to meet the trade advantage.

Introduction

The population pressure, economic expansion, and dietary changes have all led to the rise in demand for foods with animal origin. On the other hand, the fishing industry has a lot of opportunity to close the supply and demand imbalance. The average global per capita consumption has climbed to 20.3 kg, with Asia accounting for about 91.6% of the world's supply of aquaculture fish. Most of this fish is consumed domestically (FAO, 2022). India produced 14.16 million tonnes of fish in 2019-20. Across the region, per capita consumption varies significantly ranging from 63 kg/year in the case of Japan (Delgado et al. 2003) to only 5-6 kg/year in India where only one-third of the population are f ish-eaters (Dey et al. 2005). As you know fish consumption rate is increasing day by day because it contains high protein, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids {Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)} which is expected to have huge health benefits. Although the supply and demand for different species vary, the Indian major carp (IMC) predominates in satisfying the nation's demand for fish. With a diverse population of around 1.3 billion to feed, knowledge of demand and supply is necessary especially in fisheries sector. Since, fish is a perishable commodity its supplying is a tough task to accomplish. Before studying the demand and supply firstly we have to focus on what is ‘Need’ and ‘Want’.

Introduction

In a world often characterized by competition and individualism, co-operatives emerge as unique entities that prioritize unity, shared goals, and collective well-being. Co-operatives, also known as co-ops, are voluntary associations of individuals who come together to address common needs and aspirations through collectively owned and democratically governed enterprises. Rooted in principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual support, co-operatives play a vital role in various sectors, including agriculture, finance, consumer goods, and social services. Their essence lies in creating a platform where people can pool resources, skills, and efforts to improve their economic, social, and cultural conditions. At the heart of the co-operative philosophy is the belief that by working together, individuals can achieve more than they could on their own. Co-operatives are not driven by profit-maximization but by the desire to meet the needs of their members while fostering a sense of community and empowerment. Whether it's farmers joining forces to access better markets, consumers forming buying clubs to obtain affordable products, or workers creating businesses to share ownership and decision-making, co operatives embody the principle of "people helping people."

Contemporary tilapia cultivation is aligned with the principles of circular bioeconomy, aiming to minimize resource inputs while maximizing waste and effluent reuse. This strategy involves closing the loops of various economic and ecological resources as well as decentralizing the production systems for localized production and consumption. Growing concerns about disease outbreaks along with market demands for environmentally responsible and sustainable aquaculture practices are propelling a transformative shift. This shift is characterized by structural advancements in water and effluent reuse through closed-loop recirculation systems that repurpose waste as valuable nutrients. Today one of the pivotal trends in tilapia farming is the adoption of circular bio-economy principles which is exemplified by diverse recirculation systems including Biofloc Technology (BFT), Partitioned Aquaculture Systems (PASs), Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), bio RAS, , In Pond Recirculation Systems (IPRS) and Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA). The trajectory of tilapia culture often aligns with the trajectory of urban agriculture as well as waste fermentation. Low-demand water recirculation systems are poised to spearhead a disruption in industries across five key sectors (material, information, energy, transport, and food/ health) that rely heavily on extraction. This transformation is driving the transition towards a more sustainable and localized model.

Introduction

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into the fisheries sector repre sents a significant advance toward modernizing an industry critical to global food security and economic stability. This chapter highlights the comprehensive exploration of the role of IoT technology in fisheries, its applications, implications and the challenges faced by fish farmers in adopting it.

Background and Context of IoT in Fisheries Sector

The fisheries industry, with its complex web of marine ecosystems and global supply chains, has long been characterized by fundamental interactions between humans and the environment. As the global population grows and consumer demand for seafood increases, the need for sustainable, efficient and technologically advanced fishing practices is becoming increasingly important (Prapti et al., 2022). This is where IoT introduces an innovative range of devices and solutions to meet the emerging demands of the sector.

Overview of IoT Applications in Fisheries

IoT technology opens up a box of possibilities in the fisheries sector. Real time monitoring of marine conditions, vessel tracking and fleet management, aquaculture optimization, supply chain management and predictive analytics are among the primary applications explored in this chapter. By analyzing these applications, we show how IoT increases the efficiency and sustainability of the fishing industry.

Introduction

Seaweeds, also known as marine macroalgae, grow in intertidal zones to deep sea environments. Based on their pigmentation, seaweeds are classified into three groups. They are red (Rhodophyta), green (Chlorophyta), and brown (Phaeophyta). Seaweeds are the primary producers in marine ecosystems; they also contribute to carbon fixation, nutrient cycling, reducing wave energy, preventing coastal erosion, and oxygen production. The complex, three dimensional growing nature of seaweeds helps habitat marine flora and fauna. Seaweeds are consumed as food in many countries, particularly in Asia due to their high nutritional content. Along with their nutritional value, they contain bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Agar and alginate from seaweeds are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Seaweeds are integral part of marine ecosystems. Chemical pollutants including pesticides can disrupt these ecosystems by harming their populations, which directly or indirectly affect the marine environment. seaweeds are not only essential components of marine ecosystems. They are also consumed directly or indirectly in various food products (e.g., sushi, soups, and salads). The pesticides in the marine environment absorbed by seaweeds and bioaccumulate in the food chain. Seaweed cultivation is an emerging sector worldwide. The applications of seaweeds are food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and biofuels production. Seaweeds contaminate with pesticides leads to economic loss and reducing market demand. Manu of the seaweed consuming countries have safety limit for pesticide residues in food products, including seaweeds. The presence of pesticides in seaweeds also helps the development of risk assessment and management strategies including source identification, exposure pathways, and mitigating measures. The monitoring of pesticides in seaweeds provides the contamination levels over time, which helps to identifying the emerging issues, assess the effectiveness of regulatory measures, and guide adaptive management strategies.

Introduction

Revolutionary makeovers have happened in the fisheries, from traditional f ishing practices to the FAD and so on. However the introduction of trawlers had made a huge impact on the marine ecosystem. As trawling is made for catching the bottom dwelling shrimps, but one of the untargeted catch in trawling is Squid. As the squids gained an important role in the export market, the demand for the squids is being increasing inevitably. In response specialised fishing practices called Squid Jigging directly targeting squid resource in parallel minimised the harm on other Marine resources. The frozen and dried squids are extensively exported from the India since 1973and now it ranked fourth in terms of quantity and economic value (CMFRI). In the year 2020-22 The total f ish production of India was about 162.48 lakh tonnes in which the marine and inland sectors contributed about 41.27 and 121.21 lakh tonnes respectively (Handbook of fisheries statistics, 2022), In That the bulk of the squid landing comes from the west coast (0.28 lakh tonnes) from landed, which mostly dominated by Karnataka and from the east coast (0.12 lakh tonnes) the catch is dominated by Tamilnadu followed by Odisha. Even though a considerable amount of squid catch is obtained as the by-catch from the trawl nets, but the primary catch comes from squid jigging.

Introduction

The production of seaweeds in 2018 is about 36 million tonnes were produced from the dominated by the species Japanese kelp, Laminaria japonica followed by Eucheuma spp mostly originated by mariculture (SOFIA, 2022). In India seaweed are widely present in the Gulf of Mannar in the Tamilnadu and Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat coastal region. Parallelly the work on the seaweeds is also unrestricted in India, being top in the area of research especially in their bioactive compounds(Fig.,1). Since the age of ancient Egyptians to our current generation, peoples towards the beauty conscious unrestricted. Currently the exposure of e-commerce platform to the all-aged groups makes them the urge to buy more beauty enhancing products. From the film stars, whom it’s their main line of work to the people it doesn’t costs any financial income the role of cosmetics is unavoidable. Though it’s not providing any physical health, the emotional sanity enduring self-confidence is one of the principal reasons. And so the beauty industry is considered as the a dynamic segment that is ripe for disruption and the well-known actors are their key for its premiumization. Nowadays peoples are concern about their health along with beauty which leads to many companies investing in green and ecofriendly cosmetic product development. Seaweed is one among them. Seaweeds are marine macro algal species includes Chlorophyceae (green algae), Rhodophyceae (red algae) and Phaeophyceae (Brown algae) grown along the seashore which get differentiated based on the presence of carotenoids like chlorophyll, phycobiliproteins, fucoxanthins, beta carotene and so on. The presence of versatile bioactive compounds like diterpenes, proteins, antioxidants, flavonoids, phenols and especially polysaccharides (sulfated and non-sulfated) associated with seaweed makes them a good alternative to the synthetic cosmeceutical industry by producing novel beauty products (Couteau & Coiffard, 2016).

Introduction

Plastic is the main component of environmental pollution, as it is continuously disposed of into the environment in substantial quantities. Since the creation of the first plastic polymer in the mid-twentieth century, plastic production has increased dramatically, from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 280 million tons of plastic produced in 2011, with an annual growth rate of 8.7 % (Europe, 2017). By the 2050s, humans are expected to generate 26 billion tons of plastic waste, four times the current levels of plastic waste globally. Due to this serious concern, the United Nations has prioritised plastic waste and its management as one of the fundamental environmental concerns in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Plastics appear in the environment in visible and invisible forms. The visible form refers to common scenes, such as bags “flying” on tree branches, PET bottles floating in rivers, lakes, and seas or face masks we use daily. The visible form of plastic in the environment is an aesthetic mockery and a reminder of the socially indiscriminate reception of all offers from the petrochemical industry. The invisible form of plastics is called nanoplastics.

Introduction

India has a coastline of 8,118 km, with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq km and a continental shelf area of 3,72,424 km², spread across 9 maritime States and seven Union Territories, including the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep. India represents 2.5 percent of the world’s landmass and supports a population of over one billion people. India is also one of 17 mega-biodiverse countries in the world, with 7.8% of the recorded species of the world, including 45,500 recorded species of plants and 91,000 recorded species of animals. The marine ecosystem is extremely diverse, attributed to the geomorphologic and climatic variations along the coast. The coastal and marine habitat includes near shore, gulf waters, creeks, tidal flats, mud flats, coastal dunes, mangroves, marshes, wetlands, seaweed and sea grass beds, deltaic plains, estuaries, lagoons and coral reefs.

Importance of Study

The detailed studies on the coastal and marine biodiversity of the Indian mainland are lacking, and so these habitats and the biodiversity are represented poorly. It is obvious that the biodiversity is distributed widely among different associated habitats and conserving a single area would never support all the important species and ecological processes worth protecting. Furthermore, biodiversity can only be conserved by preventing habitat loss and by restoration. The importance of any single species in the functioning of an ecosystem may not be high, but protection of a mosaic of habitats will certainly preserve diversity among the species of conservation importance. Also, to achieve the Biodiversity Aichi Targets with reference to the marine environment are to preserve ecologically sensitive areas and maintain the health of the marine environment by protection, sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.

Introduction

''Sewage, also known as domestic or municipal wastewater, is produced by communities of people. It is characterized by its volume or flow rate, physical condition, chemical and toxic constituents, and bacteriological status. Sewage primarily consists of greywater (from sinks, tubs, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers) and blackwater (water used to flush toilets, combined with human waste)."

The four primary types of wastewater are domestic, industrial, agricultural, and urban. Domestic wastewater comprises black water containing human and animal feces, along with gray water from household tasks such as bathing, washing, cooking, and gardening. Industrial wastewater consists of industrial byproducts like pulp, paper, petrochemical runoff, chemicals, salts, and acids. Agricultural wastewater originates from agricultural practices, contaminated groundwater, and farming methods, particularly those involving fertilizers and pesticides. Urban wastewater is a blend of domestic and industrial wastewaters, compounded by sewage infiltration and rainwater.

Introduction

Plastics has the versatile properties like light weight, durability, less expensiveness, and it is readily available for the consumers usage. Due to these diverse properties, the usage of the plastics is increasing day to day and their production has been increased drastically in the past 50 years (Cressey, 2016). At present, global plastics production has reached to 159 million tonnes. This diversified consumption has led to the production of enormous amount of plastic waste (Hahladakis et al., 2018) and their properties allows for long range transport in the ocean (Baalkhuyur et al., 2018). According to the Earth Action reports, nearly 68,64,299 tonnes of plastic waste will end up in nature due to imbalance between the plastics consumption and production. India is among 12 countries responsible for 52 % of the world mismanaged plastic waste (Plastic Overshoot Day: Report 2023).

Marine litter occurrence and impacts are common in worldwide marine systems (Bhattacharya and Khare, 2019) and they are degraded into micro sized particles called microplastics through a various physical, chemical and biological processes such as U-V light, wind and ocean currents (Solomon and Palanisami, 2016). Microplastics are < 5mm in size and are further divided into large and small microplastics of size 1–5 mm and 20 µm–1 mm, respectively (Loder and Gerdtz, 2015). Microplastics are classified into 2 categories: i) primary microplastics, intentionally produced as small sizes, used in cosmetics, microfibers from clothing, fishing nets, and their shape, size, colour, and chemical composition may vary depending upon the products. ii) Secondary microplastics are the tiny particles including fibres, fragments formed by the degradation or breakdown of larger plastics particles due to the UV rays from sunlight oxidation process. These particles are generated from the plastic films, accidentally or intentionally discarded fishing ropes and nets, plastic bottles and plastic bags etc. (Andrady, 2011).

Introduction

In 1952, the classical theory of survey sampling neared completion. In 1952, Horvitz and Thompson created a general theory with an aim to create objective estimations. As Horvitz and Thompson completed the Classical theory, the random sampling strategy was mostly agreed upon. The majority of the great books on sampling were written by numerous authors. (Yates, 1949; Deming, 1950; Hansen, Hurwitz, and Madow 1953; Cochran et al., 1953).

Why Sample?

• Particularly in fisheries, it is impractical to count every single specimen.

• Sampling gives a depiction of an organism's abundance and dispersion.

• A sufficient number of samples must be used to ensure that the results are accurate representations of the condition. Notwithstanding the fact that the sample is considered to be the credible and representative of the population and that the data shows accuracy, the sample may not accurately reflect the system's real population. As a result, sampling introduces a mistake.

• Sampling error is the statistical error showing the difference between the values derived from the sample of a population and the true values of a population parameter when all the units in the population are counted in the same way that the sample is counted.

Introduction

Because of their incredible diversity of life and amazing distinctiveness, coral reefs are frequently referred to as the "Tropical Rainforests of the Sea". Reefs are vast biological treasure troves that provide millions of people throughout the world with a variety of economic and environmental services. Corals are useful and beautiful things that are members of the phylum Anthozoa. The massive reefs that are only visible at low tides are built by hermatypic corals and their symbiotic zooxanthellae. Corals are only found in the ocean and, taxonomically speaking, are part of the scleratinia order.

The solitary forms, known as ahermatypes, are both solitary and colonial and lack symbionts. Corals that form reefs are actively growing in the ocean's photic zone. Around the world, a belt of coral reefs can be seen in the tropical waters. Coral reefs are of immense importance, but due to both natural and man-made influences, they are rapidly degrading and disappearing at an alarming rate. By 2030, 90% of the reefs would be in danger if current rates of erosion are permitted to continue. It is crucial to comprehend the coral reefs' current state of health and the growing dangers to them. The study's goals are to examine management and conservation strategies and shed knowledge on the expanding issue of coral exploitation (Jhajhria, 2021).

Introduction

The biology is the study of life forms, subdivided into a variety of specialist categories that include their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution.The conservation of endangered species is often equated with the preservation of biodiversity by people all over the world. Although endangered species are among the most obvious and understandable markers of the continual loss of biodiversity, ecologists are aware that biodiversity involves much more than just endangered species. An increasingly popular and crucial component of initiatives to preserve the ecological diversity of the planet is the protection of such species.

Endangered species

Endangered (EN): A taxon that is not critically endangered but facing a very high risk of extinction in the natural environment in the near future, it is considered to be endangered.

The important criteria are

1. A decline of at least 50% over at least 10 years or three generations that has been observed, estimated, inferred, or suspected. 2. Population thought to consist of no more than 2500 mature individuals.

Introduction

Tumaria wetland (29° 18' N & 78° 57'E) is a manmade wetland near Corbett Tiger Reserve, Nainital district, Uttarakhand (Figure 1). It was constructed in the year 1961 and has an average depth of 3.1 m. It was mainly used for irrigation, fish production and has been a favorite place for several migratory birds during winter season (Bhattacharjee and Bargali, 2013; Bhattacharjee,2014). Tumaria bears a humid subtropical climate; emprises hot and dry summer which commences from early October to the mid of June. The area experience wet season from the mid of June to early October and then feels the cold winter. The reservoir catchment area is 284.16 sq. km and its north area is covered with thick, reserved forest of Jim Corbett National Park (Figure 2). The infestation of Salvinia weed is one of the major problems being faced by this wetland.

The exotic free-floating weed, Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell), belongs to Salviniaceae family and is a native of south-eastern Brazil (Forno, 1983). It is commonly known as water fern, water weed, Kariba weed or water spangle and African payal in India (Jones, 1987). During the past 50 years, it has widely extended throughout the world and has infester the areas of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, southern USA, the Indian subcontinent, south-east Asia and some Pacific islands (Thomas and Room, 1986) (Figure 3). In India, it was f irst established in the state of Kerala since early 1970s (Cook, 1976; Thomas, 1976 and 1979). This aquatic weed has invaded in various aquatic habitats, such as lakes, wetland, rivers, reservoirs and paddy fields.

Fisheries management has evolved, acknowledging the intricate connections between individual fisheries, ecosystems, and human activities. Discards, the portion of the catch discarded at sea, have garnered attention due to their significant global impact. Analysing the global research landscape on discards, the USA, Spain, and Australia lead in publications, highlighting the global interest in addressing this issue. This review article explores the reasons for discarding, its consequences, and the subsequent fate of discarded catch. Discards result from factors like economic considerations, fishing regulations, and storage constraints. The aftermath of discarding involves various outcomes; the survivability of discarded fish varies, with high mortality observed in small fishes and those with gas bladders, death, or being used as bait. The timeline of discards, spanning from the 1970s to the present, reflects the increasing awareness and international efforts to address this issue. In 2019, the estimated annual global discards were 10.5 million tonnes, recorded significantly in the northwest Pacific and southwest Atlantic regions. This review article delves into gear-wise and species-wise discards, revealing variations in discarding practices across fisheries. The Indian scenario highlights the decline in discards, especially in shrimp freezer trawlers. The decline in discards is attributed to changes in fishing technologies such as bycatch reduction devices, management actions like discard bans, quantifying the economic disincentives due to discards, and societal attitudes that aim to mitigate discards. Regulations and initiatives worldwide, assessing discards in fisheries is crucial for sustainable resource utilization, as depicted in a flowchart illustrating the necessity of such assessments. In conclusion, reducing discards contributes to healthier ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, and long-term global food security, calling for continued efforts to minimize wasteful practices in fisheries, this article emphasizes the need for responsible fishing practices.

Introduction Shrimp aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector worldwide due to transform the intensive cultural practices. The demand for shrimp in the global trade market has increased significantly. The commercially farmed shrimp species, Pacific white leg shrimp, P. vannamei, dominate the market compared to tiger shrimp, P. monodon. Achieving higher shrimp aquaculture production often involves employing high stocking densities and large volumes of feed. This intensification can lead to increased waste and the accumulation of toxic substances, resulting in water pollution, requiring costly management measures to address these issues (Liu et al., 2019; Abakari et al., 2021). Therefore, addressing waste management and water quality concerns is crucial for sustaining the productivity and profitability of shrimp aquaculture operations. In addition to these, several other associated problems – decline in available land resources, escalated environmental pollution, the spread of recurring diseases, the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms, and the impacts of climate change – with the development of shrimp aquaculture were reported (Santos and Ramos, 2018). To avoid these issues, it is essential to regulate and implement sustainable shrimp aquaculture practices that can be achieved through species and system diversification and environmentally sustainable technologies. Adopting these BFT systems allows for a more sustainable and resilient aquaculture operation (Zhao et al., 2016; 2021).

According to the facts, groundwater salinization and the scarcity of freshwater are indeed expanding. In the coming decades, saline water will replace freshwater as the principal resource for agriculture and aquaculture. Over 8.62 million hectares of land in India and over 397 million hectares of land worldwide have been rendered unusable for traditional agriculture as a result of secondary salinization. Use of salinized land and the water resources for aquaculture is a flexible solution to reduce environmental problem with multiple potential benefits on the economic, social, and environmental fronts. As aquaculture demand has increased, new production methods have been developed. Inland saline aquaculture, here defined as a land-based aquaculture system using saline groundwater and surface water, is practised by a number of countries, including Israel, USA, India, and Australia. The possibility that saline groundwater may differ chemically from coastal seawater is one of the key barriers to the growth of inland saline aquaculture. One must either change the chemistry or choose species that can tolerate the fluctuations to get around this. Several species are farmed or evaluated for their potential including finfish like tilapia, Indian Major Carps, catfishes, climbing perch, Asian sea bass, cobia, milkfish, mullet, and sturgeons. By combining the usage of resources, cultural systems play a significant part in attaining the disruptive technology of inland saline aquaculture. This review revealed the finfish species raised in inland saline resources as well as culture methods such as pond-based, tank-based, biofloc, and aquaponic systems for inland saline aquaculture. One of the cutting-edge food production methods required to boost aquaculture productivity and meet the expanding seafood demand is inland saline aquaculture. In spite of this, inland saline aquaculture has yet to become an industrial-scale and rural business to produce sustainably from unutilized lands.

Introduction

The global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, with seafood making up about 15% of the animal protein consumed, averaging 20.2 kg per person in 2020 (Boyd et al., 2022). Due to the overfishing of fish stocks, estimated at 93.8%, aquaculture is seen as crucial to meet future seafood demand (FAO, 2022). Aquaculture offers a promising solution to food security challenges by leveraging our oceans, seas, and freshwater bodies to produce healthy and nutritious food. However, it's worth noting that aquaculture has been linked to the loss of mangroves, with shrimp farming accounting for 38% of historical global mangrove depletion (Friess et al., 2019).

Mangrove forests play a crucial role in supporting diverse ecosystems and providing essential services, primarily in tropical and subtropical coastal areas where they thrive in intertidal zones. However, these same areas are often utilized for aquaculture activities, leading to significant mangrove forest conversion. For instance, aquaculture has been responsible for converting approximately 5,44,000 hectares of mangrove forests in eight tropical countries (Hamilton, 2013). To address the challenge of balancing mangrove conservation with aquaculture production, integrated mangrove aquaculture (IMA) has been proposed. IMA involves planting mangroves within or alongside shrimp or f ish ponds. However, it's important to note that mangroves within IMA shrimp systems typically do not provide the same level of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services as intact mangrove forests.

Crabs are one of the fast-growing animals from phylum arthropod. Freshwater crabs is now becoming as an important shellfish in freshwater aquaculture production due to its delicacy and nutritional richness. Freshwater crabs are considered good for human consumption and economically important crustacean in many developing countries such as India, China, Nigeria, Japan etc. Freshwater crabs are distributed in the tropical region of the world and they spend their entire lives in freshwater. In Indian territory Western ghats of Maharashtra and north east part of India are considerably more diverse in freshwater crab biodiversity. While only freshwater crab species Barytelphusa cunicularis is commonly observed all over India. In Maharashtra Kolhapur and Konkan region stands out for well-established crab market, driven by high freshwater crab consumption. Freshwater crab serve as good protein food, lipid and cheap carbohydrate source as well as valuable mineral source for human consumption particularly tribal and poor people. Freshwater crab aquaculture, like other types of aquaculture practices, offers a wide range of culture systems, extensive monoculture to intensive monoculture. In freshwater crab aquaculture crab farmers mainly prefers Barytelphusa cunicularis as a culture species.

Introduction

In the 21st century aquaculture has become one of the most important booming industries in the world. With just a mere contribution to the worlds fish production in 1960’s, and able to contribute to about nearly 50% in 2021, production from aquaculture has increased manifolds. Successful aquaculture relies on creating a suitable environment for growth of aquatic animals. Water quality has to be the most important component for successful aquaculture production. Throughout the farming period, it is necessary to maintain good water quality to ensure high survival and fast growth of cultured species. There are numerous water quality parameters that can impact the well-being of fish and crustaceans, most of which are discussed in this chapter.

Factors like salinity and water temperature play a critical role in assessing the suitability of a location for the cultivation of specific species. Additionally, factors such as alkalinity, turbidity, phosphorus, and nitrogen hold significance due to their impact on plant productivity, which, in turn, affects aquaculture production. As the cultivation progresses, factors like dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and others gain importance, as they have the potential to create stress for the cultured animals. This chapter offers an overview of the presence and behavior of each of these variables in both natural water environments and aquaculture ponds.

With constantly increasing population and need for food security in the present era, an alternate option to safeguard the nutritional well-being of human civilisation is the utmost necessity of the hour. Aquaponics is a system which combines two food-producing systems such as a recirculatory aquaculture system and hydroponics in such a way, that, the waste of one system is utilised in the other system making it a perfect example of the eco friendly model. This system is a soil-less system which can be set up in small vicinity, providing higher outputs. The designs can be changed according to one’s needs, but the main components of the unit should be kept in mind. The main components consist of a fish tank, mechanical filter, biological filter, hydroponics unit along with sump. Although the hydroponics unit are of various kinds but broadly it can be classified into three main types-1. media bed, 2. Nutrient film technique and 3. Deep water culture. If there is a scarcity of land and water or if the quality of soil is poor, usage of aquaponics will be sustainable.

Introduction

Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics with recirculatory aquaculture system(RAS) as a single production system. Water with fish wastes coming from the fish tank circulates and passes through the filters, the plant grows on beds and water recycles back to the fish tank in an aquaponic system. At f irst solid waste are removed by mechanic filtration followed by biofiltration for removal of dissolved wastes. Ammonia, which is poisonous to fish, is converted to nitrate, a more readily available fertiliser for plants, by bacteria in the biofilter. The plants absorb nitrate and other nutrients when the water passes through plant growing beds, filtering it prior to its arrival in the fish tank.

Sustainability Issues Regarding Major Marine Raw Materials Used in Aquaculture Diets

In 2018, more than 70% of the fish production is from fed aquaculture where f ish meals (FMs) and fish oils (FOs) are the main marine raw materials used in aquaculture diets or fish feed (Hua et al. 2019). They are derived or reduced products from the catch of small, pelagic, low-priced marine fish (forage fish) like Peruvian anchoveta that are rich in protein, micronutrient and lipid and are commonly termed as the ‘feed grade marine fishery’ (Bell and Waagbø, 2008; Bendiksen et al. 2011). The whole fish or any other f ish processing by-products are either cooked and then pressed to produce a liquid which on centrifuging produce the fish oil or are dried and crushed into powder-like material which is called as the fish meal (FAO, 2020). FM has the enough balance and concentration of essential amino acids and FO are rich in n-3 essential fatty acids especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). FM and FO are the main ingredients in aquaculture diets as they are relatively cheap, readily available, accepted and digested by the fish. The highest amount of these ingredients are often used in feeds for the high value aquatic organisms like carnivorous finfish (eg: Dicentrarchus labrax, Rachycendron canadum) (mostly marine), eels, salmonids, trouts, marine shrimps and freshwater crustaceans (see figure 1) etc. (Houlihan et al. 2001; Halver and Hardy, 2002; Miller et al. 2008) which are mainly imported by prosperous countries adding to good seafood trade value. All the intensive aquaculture production systems like recirculatory aquaculture systems, raceway aquaculture systems, aquaponics, cage culture, shrimp ponds etc are the major end users of the marine raw materials.

Introduction

In the face of a burgeoning global population, the imperative for robust advancements in food production, especially within the aquaculture industry, is more pressing than ever. The expansion of this industry necessitates a nuanced consideration of environmental, economic, and social factors underpinned by a commitment to sustainable development. However, the intensification of aquaculture, particularly in coastal regions, poses long-term environmental risks due to increased organic matter in water, demanding innovative solutions.

In recent decades, recirculating systems have emerged as a step toward sustainable aquaculture, offering an effective approach to control wastewater. High operating costs have hindered widespread adoption despite their potential, particularly in developing countries. Enter the need for a game-changing, cost effective, and environmentally friendly technology that resonates with farmers on a large scale. This is where the Biofloc system, or Biofloc technology (BFT), takes center stage. A beacon of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and environmental friendliness, the BFT reduces water exchange to almost zero and slashes artificial feeding ratios. This revolutionary system enhances water quality and generates microbial protein for aquatic species, addressing critical challenges faced by the aquaculture industry.

Introduction

In aquaculture practises carried out in open environments (e.g. ponds, cages and pens), natural interaction between the culture and non-culture species, where the culture species are been fed by the non-culture species (predation) can occur, causing significant economic loses (Ross, 1988). As many as thirteen different predators are considered to cause loss or damage on salmon farms in Scotland alone among which cetaceans are notable. Seals, sea lions, aquatic birds, dolphins, whales, otters, crabs, starfish, snail, snakes, rats etc are generally considered as predators (SSGA, 1990; Miron et al., 2005), but cetacean species are not notable predators within salmon farms. It is necessary to develop an environment friendly and economically feasible methods or technologies to limit the useless natural interaction. Manual chasing away or removal of predators, usage of scarecrows, anti-predatory nets, covering nets and increasing the tension of nets are some methods used to prevent predations in different aquaculture scenarios.

Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) otherwise called as Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) help to prevent predation as they produce strong underwater noises (sound waves) that disturb and scare off the predators (Gordon & Northridge, 2002). AHDs are comparatively higher energy output devices than ADDs that operate at a power level of above 185 dB re 1µPa @1m. However, as the hearing threshold of different predators differ, the term “ADDs” are generally used for those that are efficient to deter the predators irrespective of their operating power levels (Götz & Janik 2010). One of the first usage of different unspecified sounds (eg: killer whale’s recorded voice) to deter predators (seals) were during the 1970s and no sounds were then found efficient in a long-term run (Anderson and Hawkins, 1988). Later through the 1980s, the precursor of modern ADDs (175-210 dB re 1uPa @1m) that emit out sound waves of frequency range (8-17 kHz), which is similar to the predator’s (seals) most sensitive hearing range were developed (Mate et al.,1987).