September 20, 2021
Wastewater
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-trimoxazole, sulphadiazine, oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline, amoxicillin, sulphamethoxazole, etc.
Adverse Impact of Using Chemicals
Improper or indiscriminate use of chemicals in water or feed can disrupt the aquatic ecosystem, resulting in the death of fish.
Various factors, such as pH, alkalinity, and temperature of the water, along with the type of fish 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, investigate the impact of chemicals and antibiotics on shrimp farming activities, the farming community, consumers, and 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. Additionally, chemicals and antibiotics also generate waste in water, which can lead to plankton growth, stress, and health risks.
Moreover, it causes shrimp disease, turbidity, and the growth of filamentous algae.
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 resources can cause pollution, which in turn affects 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 demand for fish grows across Bangladesh and the corresponding intensification of the aquaculture system, it is high time to adopt effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable aquaculture solutions.
Probiotics have emerged as one of the most effective solutions to sustainably boost aquaculture productivity.
Probiotics Features
Probiotics are beneficial living microorganisms that offer numerous 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
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, and Bioclean Aqua Fish.
Contact us at any time for more details about how our products can help aquaculture in Bangladesh.
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