A team from the Fisheries Department has collected samples of dead fish and water at Boyapadu in Anakapalli district to determine what caused a mass fish kill at the coastal village over the weekend. The samples have been sent to the State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT) in Kakinada for analysis.
The investigation was carried out under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) on the directions of the Commissioner of Fisheries. It is part of a broader, ongoing initiative to ensure the health and sustainability of the region’s aquaculture sector. The primary objectives of the NSPAAD programme include the continuous monitoring of aquatic animal health, the early detection of disease outbreaks to prevent rapid spread, and the provision of timely technical guidance to local farmers to support sustainable aquaculture development.
Investigation details
Speaking to The Hindu, an NSPAAD representative said the investigation was initiated on the instructions of the Principal and Additional Director of the State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada, and carried out under the supervision of District Fisheries Department officials.
“Our team visited the site to determine the cause of the deaths, collecting samples of dead fish and water, which have been sent to the SIFT laboratory in Kakinada for scientific analysis,” he said.
An Environmental Engineer collecting samples at the Boyapadu beach in Anakapalli district to assess dissolved oxygen levels and other chemical analysis. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Expanded surveillance
In addition to the investigation at Boyapadu, the team expanded its surveillance efforts across the district as part of the ongoing NSPAAD programme. Samples were collected from several shrimp ponds in Bangarammeta and Pentakota areas to test for the presence of pathogens, specifically ‘Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei’ (EHP) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV).
The field operations involved a team comprising Assistant Director of Fisheries (ADF) P. Kiran Kumar, Young Professional-II (YP-II) N.N. Chaitanya, Junior Consultant (JC) P. Srinivas and Village Fisheries Assistants (VFA) Shivaji, J. Purnima (D.L. Puram) and K. Trinadh Babu (Pentakota).
CMFRI assessing the situation
Meanwhile, speaking to The Hindu on Monday (June 22, 2026), Joe K. Kizhakudan, Principal Scientist and Head of the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), said a joint team comprising CMFRI and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) officials held preliminary discussions at their office to assess the potential causes behind the mass fish deaths. The detailed post-mortem report is expected to be released in the next few days.
Published - June 22, 2026 04:58 pm IST