UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga Rector Prof. Dr. H. Mohammad Nasih, MT., SE., Ak., with his vices, deans and UNAIR other officials spread 2,500 fish seed in UNAIR Campus C Conservation Pond on Sunday January 31. The spreading was done after morning exercise held in UNAIR Faculty Of Science and Technology (FST). The seed spreading was done after the previous rearing was harvested on Sunday, January 13 2015.
”The pond does not only have environmental purpose in Campus C, but is also used to rear fish and later can be enjoyed together, not only UNAIR academician but also for the public.
As we know, last harvest reached 5 metric tons, consisted of nile tilapia (most of them), red nile tilapia, gouramis, iridescent shark fish, and catfish. The harvest was distributed to the academician and the surrounding public, about 2000 coupons had been given. Each person with a coupon got from 2 kg to 2.5 kg. The harvest was held together with “Gemar Makan Ikan (Eat Fish Movement)” socialization from the provincial Fisheries and Marine Agency of East Java.
Kustiawan Tri Pursetyo, S.Pi., M.Vet., a lecturer from UNAIR Faculty of Fisheries and Marine (FPK) explained the 2,500 seeds were only a part of the total seeds. There were limited seeds with 10 cm length so they still waited for the seed production company. The desired length was requested so that they can grow faster.
For this year, milkfish is tried for the rearing, so there were seven kinds of freshwater fish in total in the rearing, black nile tilapia,red nile tilapia, iridescent sharkfish, milkfish, gourami, Java barb and koi fish.
The kind of fish was added after previously tried out and it was a success, even though it was not the best result as if it was reared in the special milkfish cultivation ponds.
“The pond size and the feed volume were important factors. Here, the fish competes for the food and the milkfish was not good at it, so its rearing did not give the best result,” Kustiawan said.
Fish conservation and the harvest distributed to public like this was, according to Kustiawan, also to give knowledge to the public that Indonesian potentials for freshwater fish production were outstanding and also to encourage people to eat fish more because of the nutrition is needed such as Omega – 3 fatty acid which is very good for brains.
“Fat in fish is not saturated fat so it doesn’t cause cholesterol risk. It also contains vitamin D, vitamin B2 and mineral the body needed such as calcium, phosphor, iron, iodine, magnesium and potassium,” he said. (*)
Author: Bambang Bes
