This document discusses factors that affect the transportation of fish, including their physiological condition, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and temperature. It notes that oxygen is critically important and can be depleted, causing mass mortality. It recommends aeration before loading and describes how lowering the water temperature through various methods like adding ice or insulation can reduce metabolic waste and oxygen demand. Finally, it discusses the use of plastic bags, styrofoam boxes, salt, anesthesia, antibiotics and buffers to help transport fish safely.

1. Created by:
Debojit Ghosh, Sreemayee
Chattopadhyay, Utsav Sarkar &
Dipshikha Sarkar.

2.  Physiological condition of fish.
 Oxygen.
 Carbon di oxide.
 Ammonia.
 Lowering water temperature.
 Adding salt, anesthesia , antibiotics or
buffers (if required).
Factors affecting Transportation:

3. Physiological Condition of Fish
 Fish should be healthy – transportation should be
postponed in case of stress or disease.
 With the exception of small fry, fish should be given
enough time to empty their stomachs before transportation
(fish with full stomachs require larger amounts of oxygen for
digestion).
The most critical factor in fish transport; serious
problems are related to low or depleted of oxygen –
mortality could be in mass and observed more oxygen
is consumed as fish gets excited upon loading.
Oxygen

4. The immediate period after loading is the most
critical moment regarding oxygen use .
Aerate water before loading. This process is
called Bubbling.

5. Carbon di oxide
 Free CO2 is a poisonous product as
free CO2 increases, more oxygen is
required.
 Since CO2 reduces the affinity of
blood.
 Major waste product especially at high temperature.
 If unionized ammonia (NH3) reaches (about 1 mg/l),
oxygen content of blood is reduced to 1/7 normal and
CO2 of blood is increased by 15% resulting in death by
suffocation.
Ammonia

6. Temperature:
The influence of temperature occurs influences
through its impact on water quality parameters
and fish physiology.
Lowering water temperature will lead to:
 Reduce metabolic wastes (feces, ammonia,
Co2)
 Reduce oxygen requirements
 Increase the oxygen saturation level of water.
Fish species vary in regard to levels of
temperature reduction.

7. Lowering Water Temperature:

8. Indirect
Methods

9. Other Indirect Methods:
If a wet cloth is wrapped around the
above container, water temperature will
be reduced by evaporation.
Insulation capacity is
determined based on K Factor.
K Factor: The amount of heat in BTU transmitted in one hour through one
square foot of material one inch thick for each Fahrenheit degree difference
between 2 surfaces of material.
Material Value of K
Cork 0.29
Fiberglass 0.25
Styrofoam 0.28
Urethane 0.18 (Best)

10. Plastic Bags for Transportation:
 The bags with fish are placed in a
styrofoam (polystyrene) box, usually 4 to
8 bags to a box.
 The styrofoam box is usually placed
inside a cardboard box of similar size.
 The styrofoam box serves to provide
thermal insulation so as to prevent
sudden changes in the temperature of the
transport water, especially when the
consignments are in the cargo hold of the
aircraft (21-22 °C) during air transport.

11.  Two sizes of styrofoam boxes are most
commonly used: those which measure 48.5
cm x 36.5 cm x 36.5 cm and 60.5 cm x
45.5 cm x 30.5 cm. The thickness of the
box is either 2.0 cm or 1.30 cm, thicker
boxes being used for temperate climates or
during the winter.
 The boxes serve to protect the
polyethylene bags from mechanical damage
during handling, keeping bags in an upright
position and facilitates handling at
embarkation and disembarkation.

12. Materials used during Transportation:
 Adding Salt:
Adding salt up to 2 g/l will minimize energy spent in
reducing salt loss from fish
Some have used up to 5 g/l successfully. Tolerance limits of
species should be considered
If common table salt is used, it should contain no iodine.
Use of Anesthesia:
Only if needed Reduce excitement and so stress
Recommended level of anesthesia during transport should
permit fish to be caught easily by hand but not cause total
loss of activity or equilibrium.
MS-222 is used at 15 to 60 mg/l for 6 to 48 hours to
sedate fish during transport.

13.  Antibiotic like Acriflavin can be used 2-3 ppm.
 Buffer like Tris hydroxymethyl amino methane
can also be used 1-2 ppt.
Materials used during
Transportation: