Aqua Drugs and Chemicals Used in Aquaculture in Jamalpur Sadar Upazila of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted to know the present status of use of commercial aqua drugs and chemicals and their impact on fish health management in Jamalpur sadar upazila (sub-district). A questionnaire survey was conducted for a period of seven months from December 2013 to June 2014 from nineteen small scale fish farms, seven commercial fish farms, eight fish hatcheries and seven chemical retailers. Five categories of aqua drugs and chemicals were identified and noted in the study area. Those drugs and chemicals were produced by the following seven pharmaceutical companies: Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Novarties Animal Health, ACI Animal Health, Fish Tech BD Ltd., Acme Laboratories, Reneta, and Eon Animal Health. Different types of diseases such as edwardsiellosis, EUS (epizotic ulcerative syndrome), red spot and different parasitic diseases were found to occur in pangus (Pangasius hypophthalmus), tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica), sharputi (Puntius sarana), rui (Labeo rohita), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), Thai koi (Anabas testudineus), shing (Heteropneustes fossilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix). Geotox, JV Zeolite, Aquakleen and Biomin Aquaboost were used for water quality management; Oxyflow, Bio Care and Oxylife to improve dissolve oxygen level; Megavit Aqua, Aqua Boost, Aquamin, Acimix Super-fish, Square Aquamix and Vitax-C as growth promoter; Oxysentin 20%, Captor, Aquamycine and Renamycin soluble powder as antibiotics; Hepaprotect-Aqua, Timsen, Virex, Polgard Plus as disinfectant; lime, salt, formalin, potash and malachite green were used against fish diseases. Susceptible months of disease outbreak in the study area were November to February. The recovery of fish diseases was found from 50% to 95% in Jamalpur region. Farmers’ poor understandings about the application of aqua drugs and proper withdrawal period were found in the study area which might have adverse effect on fish and human health. Proper training of fish farming community about the appropriate dose and administration methods should be suggested for safe and sustainable aquaculture practices.