Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department Probes Mass Fish Kill at Boyapadu

A mass fish kill occurred over the weekend at Boyapadu, a coastal village in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh. In response, a team from the Fisheries Department collected samples of dead fish and water from the site to determine the cause. The samples have been sent to the State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT) in Kakinada for analysis.

The investigation was conducted under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD), as directed by the Commissioner of Fisheries. NSPAAD is a national initiative aimed at monitoring aquatic animal health, early detection of disease outbreaks, and providing technical guidance to farmers to promote sustainable aquaculture.

An NSPAAD representative told The Hindu that the investigation was initiated on instructions from the Principal and Additional Director of SIFT, Kakinada, and carried out under the supervision of district Fisheries Department officials. The team collected samples of dead fish and water, which are now undergoing scientific analysis at the SIFT laboratory.

In addition to the Boyapadu site, the team expanded surveillance efforts across the district as part of the ongoing NSPAAD programme. Samples were collected from several shrimp ponds in Bangarammeta and Pentakota to test for the presence of pathogens, specifically Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). These pathogens are known to cause significant losses in shrimp aquaculture.

The field operations team included Assistant Director of Fisheries P. Kiran Kumar, Young Professional-II N.N. Chaitanya, Junior Consultant P. Srinivas, and Village Fisheries Assistants Shivaji, J. Purnima, and K. Trinadh Babu.

Meanwhile, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is also assessing the situation. Joe K. Kizhakudan, Principal Scientist and Head of the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI, told The Hindu on Monday that a joint team comprising CMFRI and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) officials held preliminary discussions to assess potential causes. A detailed post-mortem report is expected in the coming days.