Disaster looms on aquaculture industry

If not addressed properly, these problems will bring in a disaster in aquaculture industry in the country, experts said at a workshop in Khulna, according to a press release issued by the organisers here yesterday.

The experts called upon the government to take steps to check in-breeding in fish seed to save the budding and prospective aquaculture industry.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Inbreeding is primarily caused by repeated cross-breeding among successive generations of the same or similar genetic lines.

The workshop on 'Production of Inbreed Free Aquaculture Seeds and Good Quality Feed was organized by ATDP (Agro Based Industry and Technology Development Project) at CSS auditorium in Khulna on Wednesday.

Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Hamim Hasan, Khulna Deputy Director of Department of Fishery Sheikh Ashraf Ali, ATDP Senior Agribusiness Director Nii Akwei, BFFEA Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, Prof Saifuddin Shah of Khulna University and Dr Abul Hossain And Abdul Baten of ATDP attended the workshop, among others. ATDP Policy Director Nazrul Islam presided.

Fish and shrimp farmers, hatchery owners, trade associations and NGOs also attended the workshop.

The objective of the workshop was to assess the impact of existing policy on aquaculture seeds and quality of feed used and to identify and recommend reform measures.

The workshop suggested use of only proven and scientifically tested large brood fish to contain the in-breeding problem and setting up of a central gene and brood bank in public sector to supply inbreeding-free broods and seed to hatchery owners.

It also suggested proper screening of both brood and larvae in Bagda hatcheries to contain diseases.

Quality feed should be used so that the aquaculture industry can expand vertically.