VISAKHAPATNAM: A new horror haunts the fish lovers of Andhra Pradesh. Every household in the state is mulling over the same question—is the very popular Andhra Chepala Pulusu (fish cooked in tamarind sauce) or the favourite Catfish curry safe to eat? People are forced to think twice before they cook their favourite fish delicacy as pisciculture farmers in the state are feeding animal wastes from abattoirs to a variety of carnivorous fishes in the district of Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari.
The practice has become rampant as feeding animal waste from abattoirs hastens the growth of fish bred in tanks. The fish which takes about 10-12 months for complete growth and weighs around 1-5 kg, will be able to gain the necessary weight within eight to ten months.
Feeding animal wastes can lead to the spread of epidemics, however, if the concerned officials fail to curb the practice in the absence of specific rules against the menace. “The carnivorous fishes destroy the surrounding environs and trigger diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, cholera and skin diseases. Fortunately, we have not seen any serious epidemics in the region in the recent past,” said A. Srinivas, a fish scientist and aquaculture expert from Eluru. The practice of feeding animal waste to fish is more in the areas adjacent to Kolleru Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in India.
Speaking to The Sunday Standard, West Godavari district Fisheries Development Officer (FDO) P. Jeevan said that the department has registered 20 cases against Catfish cultivation since the ban on cultivation of this species was imposed in 2002. During last year itself, the officials had caught two cases and seized their produce, but in vain. As there is no ban on breeding other species of fishes, officials are unable to initiate any action against farmers who are feeding animal waste to these fishes. Sources said that some farmers export Catfish under the guise of a different species of fish to West Bengal, Bangalore, Odisha, Bihar and Hyderabad for sale.
Pisciculture is one of the major occupations in the districts of Krishna, East and West Godavari where fishes are bred in tanks spread over 3.5 lakh acre including 2 lakh acre in West Godavari district alone. According to the Fisheries Department, there are 159 species of fishes in Andhra Pradesh, out of which 53 are carnivorous, 26 herbivorous and 81 omnivorous species.
The fish farmers largely cultivate herbivorous species like Rohu and Katla. However, there is a small community of farmers who breed herbivorous fish like Catfish. “Catfish are bred in about 500-600 acre in West Godavari district alone besides another similar carnivorous fish which is bred in about 20,000 acre. However, the practice of feeding animal waste is rampant in about 1,600 acre including catfish breeding and other fish species,” said a Catfish breeder on conditions of anonymity.