Inland aquafarmers in coastal belt hit as heatwave kills fish species

Across the region, there are hundreds of aquafarmers who are involved in inland aquafarming, covering an estimated area of 10,000 acres. Several breeds of fish, including rohu, catla, mrigal, common carp, and grass carp (vernacular name - kendai), are being cultured in freshwater ponds across the region, particularly near the coastal localities.

As the months of October and November are considered ideal for commencing the stocking and culturing of fish seeds, and also with the incessant northeast monsoon last year, farmers had carried out the stocking of fish seeds extensively. However, while the normal minimum temperature in the region is between 27 and 29 degree Celsius during this time of the year, the actual minimum temperature here for the past few days hovered between 38 and 40 degree Celsius.

Owing to the unprecedented heatwaves in the recent days, aquafarmers said that their stockings have died and were found afloat in the waterbodies.

According to Padmanaban, an aquafarmer from Nagapattinam, a large number of farmers took up inland aqua farming ventures. The harvest activities are scheduled from April to June during the fishing ban period. But many aquafarmers there have reported fishes dying due to the heat. Highlighting the effect of heatwave on the fish and the resultant impact on their livelihood, the aquafarmers have sought the Fisheries department to provide suggestions and solutions for the farmers to prevent loss.

“Fishes cannot survive such temperature deviation. In organic aquafarming, a mix of lime powder and turmeric powder should be sprayed over the aquafarm to protect the fishes,” said M Veerasamy, an aquafarmer from Panangatankudi near Sirkazhi.

As the heatwave is likely to prevail for more days, the aquafarmers pursuing organic methodology have urged their counterparts to make use of lime powder and turmeric powder mix to protect the fish being reared in inland aquafarms.