JOE DSOUZA, EVETTE FERNAN DES, V. KENKRE AND S. CUDCHODKAR
Abstract
The chemical fertilisers used abundantly in modern agriculture, as well as the chemical nutrients used to promote algal growth in semi intensive shrimps farms have resulted in the release of nitrates, phosphates and ammonia from the farms into Goan estuaries due to tidal activities as well as monsoon showers.The increased levels of nutrients into water bodies activated the growth of opportunistic bacteria, which assumed proportions sufficient to cause diseases in fish and shrimps. The species of fish pathogens such as Bacillus, Micrococcus, Kiebsiella, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas, were isolated from diseased cat fish, mullets, butter fish and pearl spots. The shrimp pathogens isolated consisted of Flavobacterium, Plano coccus Serratia, and Vibrio alginolyticus. The present investigation confirms that unscientific growth of shrimp farms and unsustainable development of agricultural practices could be counter productive to the holistic progress of our society.