Disease Threatening Kerala Aquaculture Production

INDIA - Recurring epizootics and the emergence of new aquatic animal diseases are increasingly threatening aquaculture production in the state of Kerala, said K V Lalitha, a principal scientist at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT).

The global losses to White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) alone would come to around US$8-15 billion, she said.

Ms Lalitha was delivering a talk at the three-day training programme on ‘Disease diagnostics and disease management in aquaculture’ held at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi, reports TheNewIndianExpress.

The training programme was organised under National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for officials from the Department of Fisheries, and Agency for Development of Aquaculture (ADAK) as part of a project to document the disease affecting aquatic animals in the country.

This document will help in having a database on the prevalence of aquatic animals in the country and to effectively negotiate in international trade on fish and fishery products.

The training is organised recognising the need for capacity building of state fisheries officials in modern disease diagnostic tools and methods of aquatic animal diseases.

The training programme comprised talks on diseases of finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, ornamental fish, disease diagnostic techniques in aquaculture, water management, pond preparation and pond environment, methods of sample collection, preservation and transportation for disease diagnosis, bio-security in aquaculture and key inputs in aquaculture; seed, feed, chemicals and drugs. Hands on practical sessions were also provided.