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Abstract
Background: The present study was carried out to assess the current fish fauna and hatchery practices of warm water fish hatcheries in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, and D.I. Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Methods: Fish species were identified through field surveys, while induced breeding trials were performed using Ovaprim hormone. Water quality parameters, including temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, and ammonia concentration, were measured using standard instruments such as thermometers, pH and TDS meters, DO meter kits, Secchi disk, and API test kits.
Results: A total of 10 fish species were identified, belonging mainly to the family Cyprinidae (eight species), while Anguillidae and Siluriformes contributed one species each. Successful induced spawning was recorded for Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala at Ovaprim doses of 0.5 ml/kg (female) and 0.2 ml/kg (male). Mean values of water quality parameters across hatcheries were: temperature 34.1–35.1 °C, DO 7.47–9.75 mg/L, pH 6.13–7.06, TDS 0.441–0.474 ppt, turbidity 57.1–106 cm, and ammonia 0.21–1.77 ppm. All parameters remained within the recommended ranges for aquaculture, with minor fluctuations due to seasonal and geographic variations.
Conclusion: The study concludes that warm water hatcheries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa maintain favorable physicochemical conditions for aquaculture, supporting the dominance of Cyprinidae (80%) with lower contributions from Anguillidae and Siluriformes (10% each). These findings highlight the potential of hatchery systems in sustaining fish production in the region.