Department of Zoology, Gauhati University has established the Aquaculture & Biodiversity Centre (ABC) in 2012, in the heart of Gauhati University (GU), Guwahati, Assam with the financial assistance from UGC under the SAP program (with thrust area Aquaculture & Biodiversity), DBT- GOI, DST-GOI, ICAR-GOI & NFDB, Hyderabad to pursue cutting-edge research in field of Aquaculture & Fish Biodiversity.

Our vision is to convert the Centre as an Institute for Advance studies in Aquaculture, and to promote applied & cutting-edge research in the field. And our mission is to (1) explore and adopt new scientific approaches for the conservation of fish faunal diversity of NE India and to (2) promote applied research in the field of Aquaculture.

• Spread over a vast area of 16 acres of land within GU campus, the centre has 9 stocking & rearing ponds & 5 nursery ponds for promotion of Research & Training in Aquaculture sector in NE India.
  
  
• NFDB sponsored Integrated Ornamental Fish Farming Unit
  Capacity of more than 70 aquariums and 10 cisterns with blower and power backup facilities.
  
  
• 70 indigenous ornamental fish are being maintained in the unit Breeding & larval rearing protocols of at least 17 indigenous ornamental fishes has already been developed since 2015.
  
  
• FRP Carp hatchery
  Installed under ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneshwar NEH scheme, to carry out breeding and larval rearing protocols of Indian Major and Minor carps.
  
  
• Air breathing fish hatchery (2 units)
  Installed in the ABC for breeding of O. pabda C. magur, H. fossilis and M. tengra, which are being carried out regularly since 2015.
  
  
• Modified Ornamental Fish Hatchery (6 units)
  Farmers friendly, low cost ornamental fish hatchery has been fabricated for breeding of ornamental fishes of NE India.
  
  
• Live Feed Facilities
  Tubifex culture, Daphnia culture, Paramecium culture, Artemia culture, Micro-worm culture & Vermi-compost unit has been established for the nourishment of larva & brooders of cultured as a demonstration unit in NE India.
  
  
• Aquatic Housing System
  An imported Aquatic Housing System has been installed in the centre with an objective to rear important indigenous ornamental fish in controlled environment and develop successful breeding and larval rearing protocols.
  
  
• Overhead tank
  With 20,000 Ltrs water capacity fitted with iron removal plant, Ozone generator, Oxygen concentrator, RO water plant and double water lifting facilities to provide pathogen free water to the culture facilities of the centre.

ABC has been playing pivotal role in imparting training & demonstration to entrepreneurs and progressive farmers of the State as well as NE. Training / demonstration activities on the following have been imparted

• Integrated fish farming
  
  
• Semi intensive fish farming intensive fish farming and high density fish farming by RAS/Bio-floc mode
  
  
• Seed production of Carps, catfish and high valued ornamental fishes
  
  
• Feed using herbal ingredients
  
  
• Demonstration unit such as seed production of carps & composite fish farming has been established in the adopted villages of the district
  
  

Beneficiary Entrepreneurs / farmers: 1000 Nos Adopted villages: 5 nos in Kamrup (Rural) and Baksa districts.