Abstract
We surveyed the fish farmers of five states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal of India for adaptation and mitigation strategies of climate change impact in freshwater aquaculture. In monsoon period especially when the cyclone occurred, overall 9% fish farmers responded regarding fish migration from one pond to another pond. Sometimes entire stocks washed out due to heavy floods. Overall 23% farmers responded about water quality deterioration and contamination due to unforeseen weather conditions mostly during rainy and summer seasons. Disease incidences during the winter seasons especially Argulus infestation was reported by 42% respondent. About 37% farmers in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha expressed that farming systems were damaged and lost all the fishes because of extreme events like flood, cyclone etc. They also reported that all operational cost increased every time in re-construction of ponds due to floods. The farmers tried to mitigate some of the problems encountered due to climate change. Overall, 43% of farmers are pumping freshwater to cool down the temperature of fish culture ponds. Some farmers applied oxygen tablets during higher summer. When there is low rain fall, 60% farmers maintain water level by pumping in water from their bore well. While 75% farmers never experienced any disease problem, 25% reported such incidence, among them 50% apply lime in case of appearance of disease symptoms. In case of drought, 25% of the farmers reported that they have made early harvest, irrespective of the fish growth, others never stock the ponds. In case of flood, 48% of farmers used to prevent fish escape by using mesh like structures in pond bunds to prevent fish escape, while 16% pump out water using their pumps.
Highlights
Aquaculture is shaping up into a global venture and it is considered as the fastest growing food producing sector in the world to feed the ever-growing population
It is widely accepted that climate change is no longer a potential threat, it is unavoidable; a consequence of 200 years of excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel combustion in energy generation, transport and industry, deforestation and intensive agriculture is realized
Climate change is an additional pressure on the freshwater aquaculture and the impacts of climate change on freshwater aquaculture are more complex than those on terrestrial agriculture because it holds poikilothermic animals, which is highly sensitive to various kind of biotic and abiotic stress that directly affect the growth, reproduction, physiology and behavior of fishes
Summary
Aquaculture is shaping up into a global venture and it is considered as the fastest growing food producing sector in the world to feed the ever-growing population. With a total fish production of 9.33 million metric tones (mmt) in 2010, India has become the third largest fish producer in the world. About 49.72% (4.64 mmt) is contributed by freshwater aquaculture and India is second to China in freshwater aquaculture production. This much important food producing sector is really in the threat of global warming and climate change. Climate change is an additional pressure on the freshwater aquaculture and the impacts of climate change on freshwater aquaculture are more complex than those on terrestrial agriculture because it holds poikilothermic animals, which is highly sensitive to various kind of biotic and abiotic stress that directly affect the growth, reproduction, physiology and behavior of fishes. We conducted survey among fish farmers in different states of India about their views on adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change impact in freshwater aquaculture
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