October 27, 2014
Now, a fish hospital in India
India is building its first hospital designed to treat abnormalities and diseases in fish. A senior scientist in charge of the project, TJ Abraham of the West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, says the hospital is undergoing construction in Kolkata and expected to be completed by mid-2015.
Abraham said 60 to 65 kinds of diseases and abnormalities had been found in fishes in India. He added that India''s West Bengal state had slipped from being the country''s number one fish producer since 10% to 20% of its fish resources had died of diseases.
A fish microbiologist, he said the institute will not only help fish farmers increase their yield by reducing the number of fish deaths, it will also ensure that people will consume healthy fish.
The fish hospital will have 50 glass aquariums, 25 circular water tanks, each with a capacity of 500 litres, to admit and treat diseased fish.
The hospital will also have a separate well-equipped pathological lab to diagnose various fish diseases.
He said fish growers should approach the hospital with samples should they find cases of "abnormality, sudden death, change in colour or drastic reduction of weight" in their fish.
The diseased fish, according to him, would be kept in aquariums for observation. After ascertaining the disease or abnormality, medicines and tips would be provided to the growers.
The fish hospital is being funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, under the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
Abraham said the hospital would document diseases affecting fish in Bengal to be forwarded to the World Animal Health Organisation in Paris of which India is a member.