IPB Finds Hormone That Could Accelerate Fish Growth

Bogor, W Java, May 7 (Antara) - A researcher from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) has found a hormone that could accelerate fish growth two to three time faster. "We have found and developed a stimulant that could speed up fish growth two to three times faster," Dr Alimuddin said here on Tuesday. The hormone is produced through bacteria, Alimuddin said in a press statement. He said Indonesian has a variety of expensive fish species but grow slowly such as ones locally known as sidat, gurami and the groupers. Gurami takes more than a year to grow to be ready to go to the market, he cited. "Fish growth stimulant (FGS) has been used in experiment for fresh water fish including gurami, sidat and mujair and the result is good," Alimuddin said. FGS could improve efficiency five fold in the use of fish feed, therefore, reducing production costs, he said. With FGS, gurami could grow 75 percent and sidat 2.5 times faster than without FGS, he added. This method of breeding fish is safe based on various parameters already tested. "FGS consuming fish is safe for human consumption," he said He said FGS is not like steroid used to accelerate the growth of chickens. FGS is an ordinary peptide that will decline in efficacy in 2-3 months after being soaked in water for 1 hour, he said.