Training of Trainers - Library - Network of Aquaculture Centres in ...

• Water colour should be green / brown colour• Alkalinity should be between 100 to 150 ppm. Use alkalinity instant test kit.• Ammonia should be less than 0.5 ppm. Use ammonia instant test kit.V. Pond bottom management:The pond bottom soil should be monitored on weekly basis, especially at the feeding area or trench for black soil,benthic algae and bad smell and corrective actions should be taken.• Remove any benthic algae. If not removed, they will decay in the pond bottom and release toxicgases stressful to shrimp. The best approach is manual removal.• Check the pond bottom soil on a regular basis and avoid feeding in areas with black and badlysmelling soil.VI. Health monitoring/ BiosecurityKey factor in control of disease in societies is in case a disease outbreak is suspected, the shrimp farmersimmediately go into proactive monitoring and alert neighbouring shrimp farms. At the same time, contaminatedwater from the affected pond is not drained without disinfection. In case of emergency harvest the other farmersare informed not intake water for next couple of days.Common Biosecurity systems should include,VII. Food safety:• Crab Fencing for ponds on all four sides to prevent entry of crabs in to ponds• Non lethal Bird fencing which involves tying of nylon ropes at 6 inch interval horizontally above thepond to prevent birds picking sick/dead shrimp and contaminate other ponds.Food safety measures are strictly implemented in societies. The antibiotic monitoring programme of NaCSAactively involves the farmers and giving them the responsibility of controlling the antibiotics in the shrimp producedin the societies. This programme apart from building awareness among the participant farmers is enlisting theirsupport to control the antibiotics proactively. Below are the key steps involved,1. During the crop planning meeting of the societies farmers are asked to short list the common chemicals/probiotics being used in the society. These short listed chemicals are analyzed for presence of antibioticresidues in accredited LCMSMS laboratory on cost sharing basis by society and NaCSA.2. Framers are discouraged not to use any other chemicals other than the short listed chemicals analyzed forantibiotics.3. Shrimp seed samples are tested by farmers in ELISA labs prior to stocking. Only antibiotic free seedpurchased through contract hatchery system (seed from one hatchery to one society) will be stocked insocieties.4.The societies are encouraged to use maximum one or two feed brands in society. The Shrimp feed used insocieties are analyzed for antibiotics.5. All the inputs used in society are closely monitored by society coordinators and NaCSA staff.6. In societies each pond is given unique pond ID number so that shrimp can be traced back to the pond level.The complete pond records are maintained by each farmer pond wise in the societies.125