Biosecurity practices in hatcheries of high value fishes

The present study was conducted to know the status of biosecurity from some commercial fish hatcheries producing high value fish seeds including gulsha (Mystus cavasius), shing (Heteropneustes  fossilis) and koi (Anabas testudineus) in Mymensingh and Jessore districts. Data was collected from 90 hatcheries of each district through questionnaire interview. Biosecurity status of hatcheries was evaluated through some previously set criteria including infrastructure, restriction on entry of visitors, use of foot bath, protective clothing, hatchery hygiene, disinfection and sanitation, record keeping, hatchery personnel’s academic qualification and training. Severe lacking on some biosecurity measures were observed such as use of foot bath, restriction on visitors, record keeping system, pest control management, proper disinfection of equipment, and  feed inspection. No hatchery owners were found to use any protective clothing and vaccination. Some biosecurity measures were found quite satisfactory such as good hygiene (86%), cleaning of hatchery units (100%), water quality (78%), stocking of disease free broods (77.50%) and internal quarantine procedure (80%). Hatchery owners reported some diseases in brood fishes which included gill and fin rot, abdominal distension, ulcerative hemorrhagic lesion and whitish appurtenance. Overall the biosecurity status in hatcheries was not that satisfactory. It is thus important to improve biosecurity status in fish hatcheries through updated training of hatchery personnel.