Almost two thousand fish cages used in mono-sex tilapia farming was not being put into use in the last seven months in Chandpur due to poor water quality resulting in fish diseases and high feeding costs.
Farmers, who once found the new fishing method easy, low-cost and profitable, are left with limited options to choose from as the country’s overall aquaculture industry suffers a downturn.
Mono-sex tilapia farming, in which only male tilapias are farmed because they outgrow female tilapias, was first introduced in the country in Chandpur’s Dakatia River, in 2002.
In this system, which banks on a river rather than a fishpond to farm fishes, tilapias are bred and grown in cages especially made for this purpose. The method quickly grew in popularity in Chandpur, making it an example to fish growers of other regions.
According to the department of fisheries, the number of fish cages rose to around 7,500 in a couple of years. But in the last seven months, outbreak of fish diseases and rising fish food prices put many farmers in a tight spot.
Many have already been opted out of the business, many reverted to their conventional method of farming, and many are hoping that they won’t have to face similar fates. It is estimated that the number of cages closed in the process would be around two thousand.
Torun Mahmud, a fish farmer, said he started mono-sex tilapia farming with 48 cages.
“In the beginning, I garnered reasonable profits. But then, I had trouble coping with fish diseases that killed many tilapias and the rising feeding costs. I had no options left but to close my business as the situation worsened.”
Another businessman, Abu Hanif, said many fishes died last year from various diseases and parasites. “But I am still in the business. Surviving another loss like last year’s would be difficult. But let’s see what happens.”
Another businessman, wishing to remain anonymous, said 450 kilograms of his fishes died last year from water pollution and resulting diseases.
“This system (mono-sex tilapia farming) has no patronage of any sort. Though the government initially lent us its support to instigate farming, it stopped doing that after a short while. Without any assistance, how can a new sector like this develop?” he said.
District fisheries official Ratan Datta said many people are coming to the profession without any prior or adequate knowledge of fish farming. As a result, they suffer sizeable losses and have to close business.
“There were 7500 cages in the Dakatia River. About 1000-1500 of them have fallen into disuse or were sold off. Many farmers are closing their fishing ventures in anticipation of losses.”
