Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Status of Biosecurity in Commercial Aqua Farms in Mymensingh and Jashore Districts

MD. ALI REZA FARUK
Department of Aquaculture Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

KUMAR ARJUN
Department of Aquaculture Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

MD. NAWSHAD ALI
Department of Aquaculture Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

K.M. SHAKIL RANA
Department of Aquaculture Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Proper biosecurity practices are vital to maintain healthy fish stock in an aqua farm. Biosecurity issues in commercial aqua farms in Bangladesh are not well understood yet and the term is quite new to the farmers. In order to provide baseline information on the status of biosecurity in commercial aqua farms, questionnaire interview was carried out with 100 fish farmers in Mymensingh and Jashore districts. The status of biosecurity was evaluated through some set criteria like farm protection, management of fish seed, feed, water and sanitation and disinfection systems. The overall biosecurity status of the study areas was quite satisfactory. Most of the farmers used deep tube-well water in their farms, majority of them (84%) dried nets before using, their feed storage condition and monitoring was quite satisfactory. Farmers controlled pest by covering their ponds by polythene and nets. Some poor biosecurity measures that were evidenced in the study areas included poor fencing and farm boundary, use of foot bath facilities (7%) and use of protective clothing by farm personnel (3%). Only few farms had restriction on visitors (11%). The most common clinical sign of disease in fishes included ventral reddening, fin rot, reddish lesion and ulcerative lesion in the study areas. Farmers never confirmed these disease outbreaks in laboratory. The present study revealed that the biosecurity problems in commercial aqua farms existed and it is thus recommended that emphasis should be given to train farmers about measures and practices related to aqua farm biosecurity.

Keywords: Biosecurity, Aquafarms, Mymensingh, Jashore

Location: Mymensingh and Jashore districts, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Aquatic animal

Objectives:

To understand the status of biosecurity in commercially aqua farms in Mymensingh and Jashore districts.

Methodology:

Data collection methods: Fifty farmers from each district were randomly selected for data collection. Primary data were collected from farmers through questionnaire survey. A set of preliminary questionnaire for the commercial fish farmers was prepared for questionnaire interview. The questionnaire focused mainly on general farming information, culture strategy, types of farms, pond description, biosecurity issues including protective boundary system, fry management, water management, feeding management, sanitation and disinfection systems, biosecurity status of farm personnel, disease and health management. The preliminary questionnaire was tested at the field level and then the final set questionnaire was developed. The data were tabulated in the computer and raw data were entered in spread sheet of the Microsoft Office Excel program to analyze data.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Fish. (2019) 31(2) : 271-278

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It was observed that most of farmers disposed diseased fishes from their ponds. Some farmers mentioned that they tried to collect dead and moribund fishes from their ponds and buried under soil. Sometimes dead fishes were taken by wild animals such as dogs, cats, foxes etc. Besides that, the children from the adjacent villages picked up the moribund fishes for consuming. Delabbio et a1. (2004), reported that routine collection of dead fish should be one of the most commonly used biosecurity measures in aquaculture. It was found that almost all the farmers used commercial pelleted feed which were bought from different fish feed companies and most of the commercial farms had good feed storage facilities and they tried to maintain the storage conditions properly. Most of the farmers stocked the feeds in the store room above the ground level on the wooden or bamboo made rack to avoid contamination. They also tried to maintain proper ventilation facilities in the store room to keep feeds in good and fresh condition. From the biosecurity point of view, it is very important to use separate equipment for separate ponds. But in the present study, it was observed that the farmers did not follow this biosecurity rules properly. Most of the farmers used rented nets for catching of fishes rather than their own net. Though many of the farmers had the ability to possess their own net, they were not interested to buy nets for their farms as they needed to hire labor for operating, drying and maintaining of it. Net drying is very much important for maintaining hygienic condition of farms. In the study areas routine drying of fish net was quite satisfactory. Most of the farmers were found not to disinfect their equipment like plastic baskets, aluminum pots and transporting vehicles like manual van, pickup van and truck. Sadler and Goodwin (2007) mentioned that for the best results in killing pathogens, one must clean, disinfect and dry equipment before it is used elsewhere on or off the farm. All the commercial farms had disease problem to some extent. Major clinical signs were ventral reddening, ulcerative lesion, fin rot, whitish appearance and extended belly. Disease monitoring is one of the most important biosecurity measures in fish farms. Almost all the farmers were found to monitor disease condition of fishes in their ponds quite regularly. In conclusion, the present study identified a number of biosecurity problems in commercial fish farms. It is thus important to aware farmers about basic farm level biosecurity principles through training. Also, government should develop national biosecurity strategy for aqua farms for sustainable and safe aquaculture production.

Knowledge Management: Journal