Fish Disease Detected in Taqtaq After Improper Feeding

ERBIL — A disease has been detected in fish ponds in Taqtaq subdistrict, located in Koysinjaq of Erbil’s governorate, where officials say the outbreak is linked to improper feeding methods. Taqtaq, situated along the banks of the Little Zab River, is known for its dense network of fish ponds and daily production of fresh fish.

Sabah Haji Othman, head of the Agriculture Department in Taqtaq, told 964media that the disease was discovered during a field inspection and is the result of farming practices that encourage the development of parasites. “The disease was caused by the pond owners themselves because they feed the fish underwater algae, which leads to the development of a certain type of worm that infects the fish,” he said.

“The best solution for fish farmers is to feed their fish surface-level algae,” he added. “It’s simple, within their control, and there’s no need for any other treatment.”

There are nearly 1,600 fish ponds in the area, with daily production ranging from 20 to 50 tons. Officials said the disease has not affected all ponds and remains confined to certain sites.

Some of the illness, Othman said, is also caused by seasonal temperature fluctuations. “Because Taqtaq is cold at night and hot during the day, some of the fish became sick as a result of the temperature changes,” he said. He called on farmers to take precautions by stabilizing water temperatures in their ponds to prevent further losses.