Aquaculture has become one of the most productive sector in Bangladesh. It not only provides the production of fish for local demand but also contributing in the export market to earn foreign money. But recent years the field of aquaculture in Bangladesh has faced great production loss due to disease. So disease has become one of most talked of topics of that field.

1. Welcome to the Presentation
Noakhali Science & Technology University
Sonapur, Noakhali-3814

2. The Topic of the Presentation
Disease: The major constraints in the flourishing aqua farm in
Bangladesh

3. Introduction
Bangladesh is an agro based country where fisheries contribute as a
substantial sector in its economy. Both fisheries and aquaculture play a major
role in alleviating protein deficiency and malnutrition, in generating
employment and foreign exchange earnings in Bangladesh (DOF, 2003).
Aquaculture accounted for about 43.5% of the total fish production during
2003-04, with inland open water fisheries contributed 34.8% (DOF, 2005).
FAO ranked Bangladesh as sixth largest aquaculture producing country of the
world (DOF, 2005).
The major fish species cultured in inland water bodies are Indian major carps
(Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala), Chinese carps (
Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Thai catfish
(Pangasius sutchi). Recently, culture of koi (Anabas testudineus) also has got
popularity in Bangladesh. Due to the rapid expansion of aquaculture, fish
disease has become one of the crucial factors in fish production (Rahman and
Chowdhury, 1996).

4. Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body of an
organism. It is often considered as a medical condition associated with
specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by factors originally
from an external source, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused
by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune diseases.

5. Common Fish diseases in Bangladesh
The major fish diseases occurred in Bangladesh are Epizootic
Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), Aeromonad septicemia, different types of
fungal and parasitic diseases etc. (Chowdhury et al., 2003).
Moreover, tail and fin rot disease is also found in different fish farms
and the rate of incidence of this type of disease is assumed to be
increased in the recent years (Faruk et al., 2004).
White spot viral disease is also considered to be the most common and
dangerous viral disease attacking tiger shrimp and causing rapid death.

6. Effect of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome(EUS)
on Fish Production in Bangladesh
EUS was a very new phenomenon at the time of the first outbreaks in
Bangladesh, and it caused great concern because of the perceived
dangers to both staple food crops and to human life.
The economic loss due to EUS was estimated at 118.3 million Taka
(US$3.4 million; 1 US$=35 Taka) during 1988-89. In the second year
the disease occurred with lower severity, and the economic loss was
estimated at 88.2 million Taka (US$2.2 million). Fish price dropped to
25-40% of the pre-disease level during the first outbreak (Barua 1994).

7. Chart Show
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1988-89 1989-90
Million Taka

8. The destructive effect of disease in
shrimp farming of Bangladesh
The success of shrimp farming is measured by its rate of return on
investment, which mainly depends on the yield, capital
investment, international demand and market price, and the production
cost. This, in turn, is affected by a number of factors, the most important
of which are farm operation and management. Disease is one of the major
factors affecting productivity.
Damage caused by disease was estimated to affect 50-60% of the semi-
intensive shrimp farms in Cox's Bazar in 1994, and monetary losses were
estimated to be Tk 50 crore (US$10 million) (M.S. Islam, unpublished
data). According to the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Bangladesh
suffered a 44.3% production loss in 1996, leading to a reduction in foreign
income of 42.3% from shrimp exports (Siriwardena 1997).

9. Continued
Disease is a major concern, and was reported in 13% of extensive
shrimp farms and 74% of semi-extensive farms. In another report, the
estimated average financial loss per affected farm was estimated to be
as high as US$832/yr for extensive and US$3,928/yr for semi-intensive
farms (Chowdhury 1997). Illiterate, and even literate, shrimp farmers
are unable to point out the real cause of shrimp diseases.
However, nowadays, they are more aware of shrimp diseases and take
precautionary measures whenever possible.

10. Effect of White Spot Syndrome Viral disease
on fish production in Bangladesh
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
1997-98 2000-01
Metric Ton

11. Effect of tail rot disease on fish farms in
Bangladesh
Tail and fin rot disease occurred in Indian major carp, catla (Gibelion
catla) and climbing perch- koi (Anabas testudineus) in fish farms
located at two districts of Bangladesh. The affected fish showed lesion
and erosion on the tail and fins. Approximately, 40% mortality was
recorded in those farms.

12. Prevalence of Fish Disease
The average prevalence of fish disease in farmers pond was noticed
highest (18.2%) in Jessore district followed by Comilla
(13.4%), Mymensingh (11.4%) and Dinajpur (10.4%). Natore district
had the minimum prevalence of disease (5.6%). Average prevalence of
disease in small farmers ponds was highest (13.8%) followed by
medium (12.3%) and large farmers ponds (9.3%). About 37% farmers
considered fish disease as a major problem, while 38% thought that
disease as a moderate problem and 24.2% farmers considered it as a
minor problem.

13. Gross Economic loss due to fish disease
There were average economic loss of Tk.20,615/ha/year (US$344) to
farmers from fish diseases which was equivalent to approximately 15%
of the actual production. These losses varied among different districts
and with different size of farms. The average loss as high as
Tk.26,817/ha/year (US$447) was observed in Comilla district followed
by Dinajpur Tk.23,412 (US$390), Mymensingh Tk.19,685
(US$328), Jessore Tk.18,177 (US$303) and Natore Tk.15,037
(US$251). Fish production also varied among different districts. The
average highest (19.2%) loss of actual production was seen in Comilla
district while the lowest (7.9%) were observed with farmers from
Natore district. In general, small size farms suffered from highest
average loss (19.6%) than the bigger size farms (14% for medium and
11.2% for large farm).

14. Conclusion And Recommendation
The socio-economic circumstances of small-scale aquaculture holders are poor.
Moreover, they have no chance to set up farms, especially shrimp farms, as rich
and influential local person(s) control the industry in their locality. Disease is one
of the major constraints of fish and shrimp farming in the country. Considering
the above, the following recommendations are made:
Awareness of disease problems of small-scale aquaculture needs to be raised.
Reports of any kind of mass mortality should reach the nearby Thana Fisheries
officer (TFO)/Farm manager or Fisheries Research Institute as soon as possible.
TFO/Farm managers must be vigilant and give periodic service to small-scale
aquaculture holders in order to mitigate fish and shrimp disease problems.
A line of communication between small-scale aquaculture holders, the
Department of Fisheries (DOF) and the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute
(BFRI) needs to be established.

15. References
www.wikipedia.org
http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjbs.2004.2086.2091
http://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jbs.2010.800.804&org=11
www.fao.org
Faruk, M.A.R, M.M.R Sarker, M.J. Alam and M.B. Kabir, Economic Loss from Fish
Diseases on Rural Freshwater Aquaculture of Bangladesh, Pakistan Journal of
Biological Sciences 7 (12), 2004

16. Thanks For Patience…………..