MP Board · Class 9 · Science · Improvement in Food ResourcesWhat is composite fish culture? State one major advantage and one key problem associated with this system.

Composite fish culture is an aquaculture system where five or six different fish species, having non-competing feeding habits, are cultivated together in a single fishpond. Species are selected such that they utilize different pond zones; for instance, Catlas feed on the surface, Rohus in the middle zone, and Mrigals at the bottom. The main advantage of this system is maximum utilization of available food resources without inter-species competition, leading to high fish yields. However, a major problem is the shortage of good quality fish seeds, as many species breed only during monsoons.