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Lightning Related Fish Mortality: Case Study from Bangladesh

Chandima Gomes
Centre of Excellence on Lightning Protection (CELP) Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

Munir Ahmed
Technological Assistance for Rural Advancement (TARA), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Diana Žele
Institute for Breeding and Health Care of Wild Animals, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper reports and analyses somewhat rare observations related to lightning. On several occasions, a large number of Climbing Perch or Koi fish (Anabas testudineus) were reported dead after ground lightning events, inset of commercial fish ponds in Bangladesh. In ponds where several other fish varieties are farmed, only Koi fish is affected. The farmers and neighborhood attribute the deaths to the erection of a mobile communication tower in the proximity, as the number of affected fish increases as one move towards the ponds adjoins the tower. Site visits and interviews revealed various facts related to the incident. We show that nearby lightning to a structure having large ground resistance may lead to the surface current that provides sufficient lethal energy to kill a fish that swims in surface water.

Keywords: Lightning; Bangladesh; Koi fish; Mortality; Step potential, Isokeraunic level

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

Although lightning accidents of several types of animals have been investigated before, this is the first scientific work on the effects of lightning energy on fish or any aqua-animals.

Methodology:

The incident has occurred in September 2010 in a remote village in Bangladesh. After the information received through the community network of TARA, an NGO operating in Bangladesh a team of experts on lightning safety has been sent to the village where the incident has occurred. The team of experts made a visual inspection and gathered all possible details of the incident. As the visit took place two months after the incident, no photographs of the affected fish could be obtained. However, the team has interviewed a number of eyewitnesses of the incident individually. Information has been cross-checked for authenticity.

Source of Information: 2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Vienna, Austria

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Selective mortality of Koi fish in man-made ponds in Bangladesh has been investigated. Strong evidence has been found to relate the death of fish to the thunderstorm that occurred immediately before the observation of mortality. Causes of selective mortality and possible mechanisms for the observed injuries have been proposed.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings