[01] Md. Golam Rasul, Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh. [02] Bhaskar Chandra Majumdar, Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh. [03] Taslima Akter, Department of Aquaculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Present study was carried out to comprehend current status of the practice of chemicals and antibiotics for fish health management in freshwater aquaculture in Gowainghat and Balaganj Upazilla of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Data was collected through questionnaire interview, personal contact, market survey, focus group discussion with target group and representatives of pharmaceutical companies. A range of chemicals including antibiotics were found available in market and being used in the aquaculture sector. Lime, salt, potassium permanganate, sumithion, melathion, formalin, bleaching powder, methylene blue and malachite green were some commonly used traditional chemicals in heath management. Of the new products JV Zeolite, Mega Zeo Blue, Green zeolite, 5 Star Aqua, Aqua C, Aquavit, Bio-Ox, Oxy plus and Bio care were most widely used compounds. About 18 trade names of antibiotics were found and their major active ingredients were oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline, amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole, sulphadiazine, azithromysin. Among the available antibiotics, Oxy-Dox-F and renamycin was used widely and popularly by the freshwater aqua farmers in study area. The study also indicated some problems associated with the use of such chemicals due to lack of knowledge of farmers about the use of chemicals, appropriate dose and their indiscriminate.

Aquaculture, Antibiotics, Chemicals, Disinfectants, Fish Health Management

[01] Faruk, M. A. R., Ali, M. M. and Patwary, Z. P. (2008). Evaluation of the status of use chemicals and antibiotics in freshwater aquaculture activities with special emphasis to fish health management. Journal of Bangladesh Agricultural University 6: 381-390. [02] Ahmed, G. U., Faruk, M. A. R., Shamsuddin, M. and Rahman, M. K. (2014). Impact of aqua-drugs and chemicals on fish health. In: Wahab, M. A., Shah, M. A., Hossain, M. S., Barman, M. A. R. and Haq, M. E. (Editors). Advances of Fisheries Research in Bangladesh: 5th Fisheries Conference & Research Fair- 2012. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum, Dhaka, Bangladesh. pp. 246. [03] GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). (1997). Towards safe and effective use of chemicals in coastal aquaculture. Rep. Stud. (IMO/ FAO/ UNESCO/ IOC// WMO/ WHO/ IAEA/ UN/ UNEP, 65) pp. 40. [04] Subasinghe, R. P., Barg, U. and Tacon, A. (1996). Chemicals in Asian aquaculture: need, usage, issues and challenges. In: Use of Chemicals in Aquaculture in Asia. Arthur, J. R., Lavilla-Pitogo, C. R. and Subasinghe, R. P. (eds). Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. pp. 1-6. [05] Plumb, J. A. (1992). Disease control in aquaculture. In: Disease in Asian Aquaculture (edited by Shariff, I. M., Subasinghe, R. P. and Arthur, J. R.) Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines. pp. 3-17. [06] Alderman, D. J. (1992). Malachite green and alternatives as therapeutic agents. European aquaculture 16: 235–244. [07] Alderman, D. J., Rosenthal, H., Smith, P., Stewart, J. and Weston, D. (1994). Chemicals used in mariculture. ICES. Cooperative Research Report 202: 100. [08] Phillips, M. (1996). The use of chemicals in carp and shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. In: Use of Chemicals in Aquaculture in Asia. Arthur, J. R., Lavilla-Pitogo, C. R. and Subasinghe, R. P. (eds). Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. pp. 75-84. [09] Hasan, M. R. and Ahmed, G. U. (2002). Issues in carp hatcheries and nurseries in Bangladesh, with special reference to health management. In: Primary Aquatic Animal Health Care in Rural, Small-Scale. Arthur, J. R., Phillips, M. J., Subasinghe, R. P., Reantaso, M. B. and MacRae, H. (eds.). Aquaculture Development. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 406. pp. 147-164. [10] Ali, M. M., Rahman, M. A., Hossain, M. B. and Rahman, M. Z. (2014). Aquaculture Drugs Used for Fish and Shellfish Health Management in the Southwestern Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences 7(5): 225-231. [11] DoF. (2002). Fish Fortnight Compendium. 10-24 August 2002, Department of Fisheries, Matsha Bhaban, Dhaka. pp. 44-45. [12] Faruk, M. A. R., Sultana, N. and Kabir, M. B. (2005). Use of chemicals in aquaculture activities in Mymensingh area, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Fisheries 29(1-2): 1-10. [13] Karim, M. and Stellwagen, J. (1998). Final Report on Fourth Fisheries Projects: shrimp aquaculture (Preparatory phase for National development Program). Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock, Bangladesh. [14] BFRI, (1999). Fish diseases: prevention and control. Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Circular leaflet no 6. 2nd edition. pp. 7. [15] Faruk, M. A. R., Alam, M. J., Sarker, M. M. R. and Kabir, M. B. (2004). Status of fish disease and health management practices in rural freshwater aquaculture of Bangladesh. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 7(12): 2092-2098. [16] Jelani, A. K., Debasish, S., Belal, M. H., Shamsuddin, M. and Minar, M. H. (2012). Chemicals Used in Freshwater Aquaculture with Special Emphasis to Fish Health Management of Noakhali, Bangladesh. African Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 4(4): 110-114. [17] Sultana, N. (2004). Use of chemicals in aquaculture activities in Mymensingh area. MS Thesis, Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, pp. 81. [18] Sharker, M. R. Sumi, K. R., Alam, M. J., Rahman, M. M., Ferdous, Z., Ali, M. M. and Chaklader, M. R. (2014). Drugs and chemicals used in aquaculture activities for fish health management in the coastal region of Bangladesh. International Journal of Life Science Biotechnology and Pharma Research 3(4): 49-58. [19] Chowdhury, A. A., Uddin, M. S., Vaumik, S. and Asif, A. A. (2015). Aqua drugs and chemicals used in aquaculture of Zakigonj upazilla, Sylhet. Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 1(2): 336-349. [20] Brown, D., Brooks, A. (2002). A survey of disease impact and awareness in pond aquaculture in Bangladesh, the Fisheries and Training Extension Project-Phase II. In: Arther, J. R., Phillips, M. J., Subasinghe, R. P., Reantaso, M. B. and MacRae, I. H. (Eds.), Primary Aquatic Animal Health Care in Rural, Small Scale and Aquaculture Development. FAO Fish Tech. Pap. No. 406, pp. 85–93. [21] Benbrook, C. M. (2002). Antibiotic Drug Use in US Aquaculture: Internet Materials at . [22] Khan, M. R., Rahman, M. M., Shamsuddin, M., Islam, M. R. and Rahman, M. (2011). Present status of aqua drugs and chemicals in Mymensingh District. Journal of Bangladesh Society of Agricultural Science and Technology 8: 169-174. [23] Shamsuzzaman, M. M. and Biswas, T. K. (2012). Aqua chemicals in shrimp farm: A study from south-west coast of Bangladesh. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 38: 275-285. [24] Inglis, V. (1996). Antibacterial chemotherapy in aquaculture: review of practice, associated risks and need for action. In: Arthur, J. R., Lavilla-Pitogo, C. R. and Subasinghe, R. P. (Eds.), Use of Chemicals in Aquaculture in Asia. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre, Aquaculture Department Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. pp. 7–22. [25] AAAHRJ. 1998. Health Management in Shrimp Ponds. Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. pp. 152.