September 20, 2021

Wastewater

Impact of Aqua Chemicals in Bangladesh Shrimp Farms and the Solution

Blogs / Impact of Aqua Chemicals in Bangladesh Shrimp Farms and the Solution

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide, and it is no different in Bangladesh.

In recent years, aquaculture has expanded and contributed to the socio-economic development of the country.

The increasing demand for food and nutrition has led to an intensification of aquaculture systems with the help of advanced technology.

It has been reported that chemicals are extensively used by fish farmers in Bangladesh to achieve the current aquaculture productivity in the available land, and to maximize profits.

However, indiscriminate chemical use is a cause of concern as it is known to minimize quality, cause diseases, and, in some cases, fish kills.

Moreover, the concentration of chemicals beyond the permissible limit can cause health hazards to the public and impact the environment.

Aqua Chemicals used in Bangladesh

A study was undertaken on the southwest coast of Bangladesh, which constitutes major fish and shrimp farming areas in the country, to assess the use of chemicals and antibiotics.

The study showed that a wide variety of chemicals are used in Bangladesh, which includes Dipterex, antimicrobials, lime, rotenone, organic/inorganic fertilizers, potassium permanganate, copper sulphate, formalin, hostoxin, and others.

Easily available in the market, fish farmers were found to use chemicals for different stages of fish health management.

A large quantity of chemicals was mainly used for treating fish diseases, followed by water quality management, increasing productivity, and removing poisonous gases and water hardness.

Besides chemicals, fish farmers were found to use different types of antibiotics, which consist of active ingredients such as co-trimoxa zole, sulphadiazine oxytetracycline, chloro tetracycline amoxicillin, sulphamethoxazole, etc.

Adverse Impact of Using Chemicals

Improper or indiscriminate use of chemicals in water or feed can disturb the aquatic ecosystem, leading to fish being killed.

Various factors like pH, alkalinity, and temperature of the water, along with the fish type and organic matter, can trigger chemical reactions differently.

Similarly, indiscriminate use of antibiotics without identifying the disease can have negative consequences.

It is known to leach into natural habitats and modify bacterial flora, developing antibiotic-resistant strains.

Furthermore, find out how chemicals and antibiotics impact shrimp farming activities, the farming community, consumers as well as the environment.

Shrimp Farming

Shrimp farming systems, both semi-intensive and intensive, require a large amount of fertilizers, feeds, nutrients, and organic matter.

It affects the quality of water in ponds. Besides, chemicals and antibiotics also create waste in water, leading to plankton growth, stress, and health risks.

Moreover, it causes shrimp disease, turbidity, and filamentous algae growth.

Also Read: Aquaculture in Bangladesh and Use of Probiotics for Fish & Shrimp

Fish Farmers

Prolonged exposure to chemicals like bleaching powder and other toxic substances can affect those working in shrimp farms.

Chemical residues can impact the output or product quality.

Environment

Shrimp farms in areas with limited water can cause pollution, affecting the entire ecosystem.

It can further lead to drinking water contamination, organic pollution causing algae growth in receiving waters, soil changes in nearby areas, growth of bacteria and fungus, etc.

As the demand for fish grows across Bangladesh and, correspondingly, the intensifying aquaculture system, it is high time to adopt effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable aquaculture solutions.

Probiotics have emerged as one of the best solutions to boost aquaculture productivity sustainably.

Probiotics Features

Probiotics are helpful living microorganisms that provide many health benefits to fish in aquaculture systems when added in sufficient quantities.

In aquaculture, the biological agents help by:

Improving water quality
Boosts growth
Helps in disease management.
Better feed conversion ratio
Pathogen resistance

Also Read: Unlock Superior Aquaculture With Organica Biotech

Organica Biotech is a leading company developing advanced solutions for aquaculture systems.

The probiotics contain special microbial strains that enhance the aquatic ecosystem of shrimp.

Different probiotics for shrimp farming are available, such as Bioclean Aqua, Bioclean Aqua Plus, Biogut Aqua, Bioclean Aqua Hatchery, and Bioclean Aqua Fish.