December 26, 2006

Philippine catfish growers warned of using antibiotics

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned growers and breeders from feeding antibiotics to catfish and other fish cultured in ponds, reported the Freeman daily.

Some catfish growers are reportedly feeding furasolidone, an antibiotic banned for being a cancer-causing agent, to hasten the growth of his catfish fingerlings.

BFAR does not recommend the use of antibiotics as fish growth booster because of the danger it poses to humans who consume the fish.

BFAR also told growers to be extra careful with the practice of stocking their ponds with salt as this will likewise have disastrous effects on the fish if not properly done.

The bureau also discouraged the rampant practice of feeding cultured fishes with chicken offal or entrails as they tend to settle in the bottom of the pond and later, while decomposing, causes the build-up of nitrite which is highly toxic to fish when absorbed.

The BFAR, in a statement, said the nitrite reacts with haemoglobin to form methemoglobin that blocks the flow of oxygen to the fish.

The same is true with overfeeding, wherein uneaten feeds will also settle in the pond and causes the release of hydrogen sulfide when these decompose at the bottom, which would probably result to fishkill.