To prevent the spread of viruses and other diseases, aqua farmers in the State have been following an innovative method. They are engaging ‘gunmen’ to scare birds at the ponds. The gun carried by the gunman hired by the aqua farmers only makes a loud noise and does not shoot bullets.
“Birds often spread diseases in fish, prawn and crab tanks by dropping bits of dead fish, prawn and frogs they picked from ponds that are not sterilised. Appointing a gunman for chase birds is the best method to maintain bio-security,” says Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Deputy Director (Aquaculture) S. Kandan.
“Some birds steal the fish or prawns cause some loss to the farmers, but birds which spread infection cause much more damage.
Often the entire crop is destroyed because the birds bring bits of infected fish or prawn and drop them in the sanitised pond of the farmers. There is no other protection from this other than keeping the birds at bay using sounds which frighten them,” said a farmer M. Nagarjuna.
A few farmers engaged a gunman, Vijay Singh, who will scare birds by making sound with his gun. Mr. Singh will stay at the tanks with his family and shoot his gun into air to chase birds.
Toy pistol
“I am a native of Tamil Nadu and migrated to Vijayawada some three decades ago. I used to eke out livelihood by vending plastic material. One day I got of the idea of scaring birds with a toy pistol by making sound,” the gunman said.
National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) Chief Executive Officer K. Shanmuka Rao said farmers are using bird and crab nets to prevent thefts and diseases. But, maintaining bio-security is a must to avoid diseases.
Rotten fish
“Farmers will throw away the dead fish, prawn and crabs, which are floating in waters, on the bunds while checking. Birds will carry the rotten fish and prawns and leave the left over material in other ponds which spread viruses. We advise the farmers to bury the dead aqua products at ponds,” said Mr. Shankukha Rao.
If a farmer is cultivating tanks in more than 10 acres, it is not possible to erect bird nets in large area. Some farmers are engaging labourers to scare birds. But, it is better to appoint a gunman like Vijay Singh to chase birds and prevent hunting, said Dr. Kandan.
“My gun only makes a loud sound when I fire it into air, for which the birds will fly away. I am earning Rs. 10,000 per month. A few of my friends are working at Nizampatnam in Guntur, Delta area in Krishna and West Godavari districts,” Mr. Singh said.
