The present study was conducted to assess the livelihood status of fish farmers and socioeconomic condition in the Jhikargachha upazila, Jessore, Bangladesh. Data were collected from 50 fish farmers for a period of six months from June 2016 to November 2016. The study indicated that 38% of the farmers were in age structure of 50-60 years, 44 farmers (88%) were Muslims and others Hindu (12%). About 82% farmers had a primary occupation of agriculture and others were involved in business (8%), service (4%) and politics (4%). It was found that, 66% farmers had joint family and others lived in separated family (34%). Majority (44 farmers) respondents had concrete house and rest of (6 farmers) had semi-concrete house. Almost (44%) farmers used concrete toilet and rest of farmers used semi-concrete (56%). All the respondents used to drink tube well water for drinking and other household works. Out of 50 fish farmers, 4% had no education (illiterate), 36% had primary education, 42% secondary level (Up to X), 10% S.S.C., 4% H.S.C. and 4% bachelor level of education. In the study area, 32% of the farmers had ponds of 34-66 dec, 28% had pond of 15-33 dec, 14% had ponds of up to 100 dec, 22% had ponds of 101-330 dec and 4% had ponds of 330-above dec. It was found that, 62% farmers had training on fish farming and rest 38% farmers had no training on fish farming. Among 50 farmers 64% farmers were found used to invest their own credit and rest 36% farmers took loan from bank, NGO, money lender and broker agency. Most of the farmers were interested to stock rui, catla and mrigal and other species. In the study area, cow dung was used by 50 (100%) of farmers, 47 farmers used urea, 40 farmers used TSP and 34 farmers used MoP. It was found that, 40% farmers produced fish between 1001 kg -2000 kg/year and 17 (34%) farmers produced 3001 kg-above/year. The highest income was 3,30,75,000Tk/Year and the lowest income from a pond was 20000 Tk/Year. In the study area, every farmer had at least one mobile phone. Almost 96% farmers were used to go MBBS doctor and only 4% to homeopathic treatment.

Abstract:In order to investigate present status of aqua chemicals and drugs used in various aquaculture activities in Zakigonj upazilla, Sylhet. A survey was conducted, with carp polyculture, tilapia and catfish farmers, aqua-medicine sellers, representatives of pharmaceuticals companies, from July 2014 to November 2014. Each group consisted of 25 respondents. According to the survey the most common dose of lime used by the farmers during pond preparation (62.67%) and culture period (53%) is 0.5-1 kg/40m 2 . Urea and TSP used by the farmers mostly during culture period with most common dose of 100-150g/40m 2 (37.3%) and 50-100 g/40m 2 (68%) respectively. Various categories of aqua drugs and chemicals were identified that were used by fish farmers for different purposes such as water quality management, disinfectants, improve dissolve oxygen level, disease treatment, antibiotics and growth promoter. Many pharmaceutical companies were found to provide these aqua drugs and chemicals with different trade names to fulfill the farmers demand. For pond and water quality management lime, urea and TSP are mostly used. Bleaching powder, Timsen, EDTA, Polgard, Virex, Aquakleen, Germnill, Pond safe were widely used as disinfectant. Health management and disease treatment were the major activities where farmers were seen to use a lot of chemicals. A range of chemicals including antibiotics were found available in market and being used in the aquaculture sector. Commonly found traditional chemicals in heath management included Potassium permanganate, Lime, Salt, Virex, Timsen, Aquakleen, Germnil, Pond Safe, Deletrix, Spa, Albez, Ablez were used regularly for disease treatment. Mostly used antibiotics are Renamycin, Oxysentin 20% Chlorsteclin Oxy-D Vet, Aquamycin, Orgamycin 15 %, Orgacycline-15% etc. Major active ingredients of these antibiotics were oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline, amoxicillin, doxycycline etc. There are approximately fifty two pharmaceutical companies have been recorded to market around 300 products. Most of the products have been marketed from different countries like USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Belgium and China etc. The study also indicated some problems associated with the use of such chemicals due to lack of knowledge of farmers about the use of chemicals, appropriate dose, method of application and their indiscriminate use of chemicals. The study also highlighted the names and approximate price of aquaculture chemicals available with the chemicals sellers in Zakigonj, Sylhet.

Abstract:In order to understand the present status of hatcheries, questionnaire interview and participatory rural appraisal tools were used in North-west Fisheries Extension Project (NFEP), Parbatipur during the period from July to December 2015. There are two hatcheries in NFEP, Parbatipur-a carp hatchery and a prawn hatchery. The production of spawn was around 611 kg in the year 2015. According to the target hatchery manager collected brood fish from rivers and other sources which he maintained in their brood stock ponds with proper management. The hatchery manager maintained proper age and weight of broods for spawning and followed the guideline of hatchery operation so that the quality of spawn and fry were good. It was found that the hatcheries produced fish seed of a variety of species such as Indian major carps, carpio, sarpunti, silver carp, grass carp, magur, shing as well as freshwater prawn. The hatchery production activities took place starting from February and continued up to September. The quantity of fish seed produce varied from 25 to 75 kg per hatching cycle depending on size and facilities of hatcheries. The price of fry in NFEP was being fixed by the hatchery manager. However, the price variation was seen due to seasonal variation, species and demand. The average price of fish seed was highest in monsoon and lowest in winter. A number of middlemen were involved in the fry marketing channel of NFEP at Parbatipur. They were responsible for increasing the price of fry at each stage of marketing channel.

Abstract:Labeo bata is one of the important minor carps in Bangladesh with great demand as good table fish. The study was conducted to observe the breeding performance at different management practices in Mafatema, Rupali, Modhumoti and Anan fish hatchery and disinfection treatments of water, eggs and fry in Jessore, Bangladesh during 10 March 2014 to 15 May 2015. An improvement in broodstock nutrition and feeding has been shown to greatly improve seed production. Protein and lipid percentage of broodstock diet have been identified as major dietary factors. Protein level was 24.77%, 23.47%, 18.08%, 17.78% and lipid level was 11.07%, 9.50%, 7.74%, 8.14% in Mafatema, Rupali, Modhumoti and Anan fish hatchery respectively. Three concentrations of four chemical-formalin (10, 20, 30 mg/L), malachite green (1, 3, 5 mg/L), NaCl (1, 2, 3 g/L) and methylene blue ( 1, 3, 5 mg/L) treatment regimes and a control were compared for efficacy in treating L. bata eggs to prevent fungus and bacterial infection and improve hatch and survival rate of fry. Highest correlation value between absolute fecundity and body weight (r=.938, p<.05) and total length (r=.891, p<.05) and gonadosomatic index (26.2%) were found in Mafatema fish hatchery among four experimental hatcheries at 24.77% protein and 11.07% lipid level. Better fertilization rate (84.2±5.17%) and hatching rate (82.0±4.30%) were found in Mafatema and Rupali fish hatchery respectively that has significant difference (P<0.05) from that of Modhumoti and Anan fish hatchery at higher protein and lipid level. Lowest deformity rate (6.05+2.65) was observed in Mafatema fish hatchery that was significantly different (P<0.05) from that of Modhumoti fish hatchery. In case of disinfection treatment, methylene blue at 1mg/L bath treatment daily for 4 days showed significantly higher hatching rate (92.33±3.51%) and survival rate (94.33±4.73%).

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the commercially important and commonly cultured fish. In the hatchery intensive incubation leads to microbial overgrowth in C. carpio eggs that hamper egg development, hatchability and larval survivability. The aim of this study is to find out causes of mass mortality in C. carpio eggs during peak-breeding season between March to May 2015 at Mafatema fish hatchery, Chanchra, Jessore sadar upazilla. In the present study three disinfectants with three different concentrations in each such as methylene blue 1, 3 and 5mg/L., malachite green 1, 3 and 5mg/L., sodium chloride 1, 2 and 3g/L were used to observe the hatching rate of fertilized eggs and survival rate of larvae. Bacterial load of culture water was examined during the induced breeding of C. carpio with mycological examination of egg samples with different disinfectants. The total bacterial count fluctuated from 3.4 x 10 8 CFU/ml to 32.7 x 10 8 CFU/ml during the period of fertilization to 4days of hatching. The fertilized eggs infected by Saprolegnia spp. were appeared as tuft hairy like balls with a white cottony envelop. Among all the treatment 1mg/L methylene blue, 3mg/L malachite green and 1g/L sodium chloride showed significantly better (P<0.05) hatching rate 95·33±2·08, 88.00±2.64 and 92.33±4.04% respectively. The same concentration of methylene blue, malachite green and sodium chloride showed significantly better (P<0.05) better survival rate 95·00±4.35, 75.00±3.00 and 87.00±6.24% respectively. Finally among all the treatment 1mg/L of methylene blue showed significantly better (P<0.05) hatching and survival rate 95·33±2·08% and 95·00±4.35 % respectively. So 1mg/L of methylene blue is the best disinfectant for C. carpio fertilized egg treatment.