Port Blair, Aug 31: A sensitization workshop on National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was organized at ICAR-CIARI on Monday. Altogether, 53 participants including 32 fish farmers from Badmas Pahad, Manpur, Hasmatabad, Chouldariand Nayashar of South Andaman attended the sensitization workshop.
In his address as the chief guest, the Director, ICAR-CIARI, Dr S Dam Roy explained the genesis of disease surveillance programme and its importance in the Island ecosystem. This is a national level disease surveillance programme funded by NFDB, Hyderabad and coordinated by ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow, he said adding that the cooperation of fish farmers, fishermen and Fisheries Department is important for the successful progress of the programme.
The guest of honor, Mr. J. Chandrashekar, Director of Fisheries, appreciated the initiative taken by ICAR-CIARI on the aspect of aquatic animal disease surveillance. He further explained the importance of fish breeding and aquaculture activities in Andaman and pointed out that the present scenario of aquaculture in the Islands will change after the establishment of quarantine system by ICAR-CIARI.
Mr K Saravanan, Scientist, Fisheries Science Division presented an overview on importance of Aquatic Animal Diseases and elaborated the objectives and plan of work to be followed under the project. Disease surveillance of freshwater carps, prawns, wild shrimps and candidate finfishes will be covered under the project.
The technical session was started with the presentation on fish diseases and its management by Mr Arunjyoti Baruah, Scientist followed by a presentation on better management practices of freshwater fish farm by Mr. J. Praveenraj, Scientist. There was an interactive session between the Farmers and Scientists during which the queries by the farmers on fish diseases and general husbandry practices were addressed by the experts.
Earlier, Dr Kiruba Sankar, R, Head of Fisheries Science Division of ICAR-CIARI welcomed the gathering. Mr. K. Lohith Kumar, Scientist, Fisheries science division proposed the vote of thanks.
