An extensive investigative study conducted across 10 Indian states by The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) and the NGO All Creatures Great and Small (ACGS) has unearthed alarming evidence of hazardous metal levels and widespread violations of public health, food safety, and environmental and animal welfare standards in aquaculture farms.
The study, encompassing approximately 250 fish and shrimp farms in nine major states and one Union Territory, unveiled a disturbing panorama of neglect and misconduct. The worst water quality in fish farms was reported in Tamil Nadu, while Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Pondicherry were identified as posing high-level public health hazards. Farms in Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Orissa were found to be the most harmful to the environment.
A prevalent issue across the country was the contamination of fish farms with elevated levels of lead and cadmium—metals that can have severe health consequences upon consumption. Nitrogen overdose, stemming from inadequate waste management, was a common problem, leading to algae growth and reduced oxygen levels in the water. Shockingly, the study also revealed instances of human defecation in surveyed fish farms, as well as people bathing in and around these environments, further exacerbating hygiene concerns.
The lack of proper waste disposal and management practices has created a troubling cycle of waste and antibiotic misuse. Approximately 40% of the surveyed farms were found to be engaging in precautionary antibiotic use to prevent disease outbreaks, posing a significant threat to both human health and the environment. The unregulated administration of antibiotics to fish contributes to antimicrobial resistance, presenting a severe public health concern.
Koushik Raghavan, the lead investigator of the report, emphasized that unclean ponds laden with growth-enhancing hormones result in diseased and low-nutrient-value fish, often treated with antibiotics. The study underscored that the prophylactic use of antibiotics in fish farming can escalate antimicrobial resistance in humans, compounding the severity of the public health risk.
Furthermore, the unhygienic conditions prevalent in these aquaculture farms have led to frequent disease outbreaks, causing substantial commercial losses. Disturbingly, the study found instances where farmers, faced with contaminated fish, opted to sell them in local markets to minimize financial losses, thereby jeopardizing public health.
The findings of this investigation shed light on the urgent need for regulatory measures and improved practices within the Indian aquaculture sector to safeguard human health, animal welfare, and the environment.
Source: Satviki Sanjay, The Swaddle
