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¹ Faculty of Fishery Sciences, Department of Aquatic Environment Management, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
² Directorate of Research, Extension and Farms, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India DOI : 10.4194/AQUAST657 Viewed : 2271 - Downloaded : 1760 Salinity intrusion into coastal mainland or freshwater habitat because of recent climatic changes is exacerbating production risks and challenging the coping capacity of freshwater fish farmers of Sundarban coastal delta in India. Hence, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the survival and growth performance of certain commercially important brackish water species in freshwater, and subsequent low salinities (5 g l−1 and 10 g l−1). Species like Scatophagus argus, Chelon parsia, Terapon jarbua, Etroplus suratensis, and Penaeus monodon showed the highest specific growth rate (SGR) at 10 g l-1 salinity. However, the growth rates were not differed significantly (P>0.05) compared to freshwater. Chelon planiceps and Mystus gulio exhibited the highest SGR at 5 g l-1 salinity, although growth rates of the fish were not differed significantly (P>0.05) with freshwater treatments. Comparable survival and growth of all species in the freshwater condition indicated their ability of healthy acclimation at freshwater ponds. Therefore, these euryhaline fish species can be promoted in the Indian Sundarban for culture in freshwater ponds as climate-resilient adaptation strategies. This study could be useful in decision making during species and farm site selection which eventually will minimize the risks from total crop loss during saltwater inundation. Keywords : Saline water inundation, Brackishwater fish culture, Sundarban, Climate Resilient Adaptation Strategy