Biosecurity status in some commercial aquafarms of Kishoreganj and Mymensingh districts

A study was conducted to determine the present biosecurity status in some commercial aquafarmsof selected Upazila under Kishoreganj and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. A total of 30 fish farms fromKishoreganj and Mymensingh district were surveyed. Data were collected through questionnaire interviewand participatory rural appraisal tools like focus group discussion. The results showed that majority of thefarmers did not have good understanding of biosecurity procedure. Biosecurity measures such as sprays andfootbath facility, sanitary latrine, showers, disinfection of transport equipment, providing protective clothingfor visitors and quarantine facilities were totally absent in both districts. However, 80% of the farms did nothave scope for pollutant entrance and most of the farmers used ground water sources. Additionally, they tookprotection against fish stealing (80%), stocked disease free fry (100%), removed bottom waste and driedculture ponds after two or three production cycle (66.67%) and measured water quality parameters (53.33%)on monthly basis. Other biosecurity measures such as restriction of visitor's movement, control rodents andinsects in feed storage, keeping domestic animals confined to the farm, water exchange in the pond,controlling predator in farm and disinfection of equipment used for culture operation. The collected datawould be used as the preliminary study record and for further improvement of the overall biosecurity status.