" AFSIB “ asa7r2012 BOOK of ABSTRACTS Global Symposium on Aquatic Resources for Eradicating Hunger and Malnutrition - Opportunities and Challenges 3-6 December 2012 Mangalore, Karnataka, INDIA Organised byPT 26 UTILIZATION OF WASTEWATER FOR LIVE FOOD PRODUCTION Munitkumar, S*., B. K, MAhapatrA, G. H. Pailan, S. Datta, G. A. Devi, P.K. Behera and T. H. Monika Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Kolkata Centre, 32 GN Block, Sec-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata- 700091 E-mail: munilkumar@gmail.com Treatment of wastewater is a major issue in any big city. Wastewater (raw, diluted or treated) is a resource of increasing global importance, particularly in urban and peri-urban agriculture. Waste water based aquaculture systems in Asian cities of Kolkata, Ho-Chi Minh, and Hanoi are well known. With the rapid urbanization, there has been tremendous increase in wastewater generation which calls for innovative low cost technology approaches to its recycling. Bio-treatment systems or bioremediation, utilizing living organisms are receiving growing attention since they are ecologically sound, cheap and applicable in areas without land constraints. Live food organism is required as a first food for many cultured fish and shell fish species; for others it contributes to faster growth, higher survival and attractive colouration. Live foods are easily digestible protein rich diet which include both phytoplanktonic as well as zooplanktonic organisms. There is huge demand of fish food organisms for ornamental fish breeding and rearing especially in urban areas. These demands are being met through natural collection from sewage ponds and canals. Thus there is lot of potential for utilizing these waste water resources for mass culture of fish food organisms. This kind of activity will also contribute towards the treatment of sewage water. The paper discusses the potential of sewage as source of nutrients and media to culture fish food organisms. It has been found that zooplankton grown on domestic wastes had superior nutritional quality compared to those raised solely with algal food sources. Untreated wastewater, which has 2 high organic load, has been a traditional medium for raising high densities of freshwater cladocerans {ike Moina, Daphnia and rotifers. These are able to propagate in the waste media as fast as those raised with algae. These are rich in essential nutrients, and are easily ingested and digested by fish larvae. The use of this type of live feed could improve water quality by minimizing the need for artificial feeding and lessen the over dependence on costly Artemia nauplii. However, as there is an element of risk of pathogenic contamination or toxicant pollution which may cause bio-security issues, live food production may be targeted for non-food ornamental fish. This kind of technology will contribute towards the treatment of sewage water and at the same time it will also reduce the cost of feeding by replacing Artemia as alternative live food organisms. Key words: Tor khudree, prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide, immunity, gut microbiota 179