The Need for the Study
A significant number of Serepalem’s farmers depend on shrimp farming for their livelihood in the village. However, an overlooked aspect of pond management has been the accumulation of sludge over the years. Sludge removal is an essential part of pond preparation, but many farmers have neglected this due to the high costs, in addition to time and logistical constraints. The buildup of sludge often leads to increased levels of H₂S, a potent respiratory toxin for shrimps that affects their uptake and transport of oxygen, which can significantly compromise their well-being. . H₂S also decreases the pH levels of the water, making the environment acidic.
Methodology and Key Findings
We initially planned to test samples from 50 shrimp ponds, but stopped at 38 as all of the samples analysed from bottom and surface of the ponds (total 76) showed H₂S levels greater than 0.01 ppm, a concentration deemed highly toxic to shrimps (see testing samples below). The discovery of the H₂S levels not only raised concerns about the health of shrimps in the village of Serepalem, but also raised concerns about the potential that this could be a widespread issue in surrounding areas.
