SHERGAON, 18 Jul: Bhimtal (Uttarakhand)-based Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (CICFR) organised a training-cum-awareness programme on ‘Application of Vaccine vs Antibiotics in Aquaculture in Rainbow Trout’ under the NER Activity 2026-27, here in West Kameng district on Saturday.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the district fisheries development office.
The programme marked a milestone as the first-ever dedicated awareness and training programme on rainbow trout vaccination conducted for trout farmers in the state. The initiative aimed to educate rainbow trout farmers about modern disease prevention strategies, emphasising vaccination as a sustainable alternative to indiscriminate antibiotic use.
Around 25 rainbow trout farmers from West Kameng and Bichom districts actively participated in the programme and interacted with experts on various aspects of fish health management, disease prevention, and sustainable trout farming practices.
DFDO Pema Khandu Thungon, Shergaon ZPM Chong Khandu Lama, and the inventor of the rainbow trout vaccine against Lactococcus garvieae Dr Neetu Shahi, national fellow from CICFR, Bhimtal, were also present at the programme.
During the technical session, Dr Shahi delivered alecture on the application of vaccines in rainbow trout farming, and highlighted the scientific advantages of vaccination over the routine use of antibiotics for disease control. She explained that vaccination offers long-term protection against bacterial diseases, reduces disease outbreaks, improves fish survival and productivity, and significantly minimises dependence on antibiotics.
Dr Shahi further emphasised that excessive and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in aquaculture can lead to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which has become a major global concern affecting aquatic animal health, food safety, environmental sustainability, and public health. She encouraged the trout farmers to gradually adopt preventive health management through vaccination for sustainable and responsible aquaculture.
The DFDO appreciated the pioneering efforts of Dr Shahi and the CICFR in developing the rainbow trout vaccine, and lauded her commitment in travelling to the remote trout farming region of Shergaon to personally educate and create awareness among trout farmers.
He said such scientific interventions would greatly benefit the trout farming community of Arunachal Pradesh and contribute towards strengthening sustainable coldwater aquaculture in the state.
The CICFR also organised an input distribution programme under the NER Activity 2026-27, during which five deep freezers were distributed to selected rainbow trout farmers. These deep freezers will support farmers in maintaining the cold chain for harvested fish, improving storage, preserving product quality, reducing post-harvest losses, and promoting value addition and marketing of rainbow trout and its processed products.
The programme concluded with an interactive discussion, on-field trial of the vaccine, and clinical sample collection from rainbow trout of selected fish farmers’ farms, during which the farmers expressed keen interest in adopting scientific health management practices and appreciated the efforts of CICFR in bringing advanced technologies directly to the farming community. (DIPRO)
