Low oxygen level killing shrimps

A sudden drop in the oxygen level has led to the deaths of shrimps in 8,000 enclosures at Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat.

Farmers received a huge blow on Sunday as they had no option but to sell their produces at dirt cheap rates at Foltita, the largest wholesale fish market in the district.

The losses amounted to about Tk 30 crore, according to local traders.

The farmers had sold their produces at rates five times less than the usual, said Syed Tohidul Islam Poplu, president of Foltita Fisheries Association. “They sold each kilogram at Tk 200 to Tk 300 whereas the standard rate is Tk 1000 to Tk 1200 per kg,” he told this paper.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Abhijit Shil said, “Shrimps are dead in 80 percent of the 8,000 registered enclosures. Heavy rain on Saturday night drastically lowered the temperature in enclosures that were fervent in daytime.”

The water level also shrunk due to hot spell, he said.

All these factors were behind the deaths of shrimps, according to the officer. Similar situations have been reported from Mollahat and Bagerhat Sadar upazila.

During a visit to Kalkaliya and Boalbari areas in Fakirhat, this correspondent saw a grim picture where dejected farmers were hurriedly sorting out saleable shrimps and taking them to nearby markets.

“I set up my enclosure on five bigha area. Now I do not know how I will recoup the loss,” said Nazir Uddin, a farmer of Foltita.

Subrata, another farmer of the area, echoed him.

“Thousands of shrimps died following the sudden rain on Saturday. We earn our living by cultivating shrimps. We have taken loans from NGOs and banks. How will we repay the loans?”

Another farmer Apurba Roy said, “On Sunday morning, I saw dead shrimps floating in my enclosure. As a stepped into the water, I found that most of the fishes had rotten. So, I sorted out some for sale and took them to Fotita.

‘‘I have never seen such a disaster before. Around 80 percent of the shrimps in my enclosure are dead,” Apurba said, citing his concerns over loans.

Hitler Goldar, chairman of Mulghar Union Parishad (UP), said, “Most of the farmers had started shrimp farming after taking loans from NGOs and banks. Now it is impossible for them to repay the debts,” he said, urging the government to exempt the farmers from paying interests and give them fresh interest-free loans.

“Farmers are being advised to pour medicines in enclosures. Drugs used to increase oxygen levels in water bodies are available in local markets,” said Bagerhat District Fisheries Officer Dr Khaled Kanak.

“Announcements through microphones are on. We are telling them to not panic. Fisheries officials are giving them relevant instructions,” he said.

The overall damage was yet to be assessed, he added.