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Srinagar, Dec. 24: Fish deaths reported from the historic Martand Temple springs in Mattan area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district were caused by deteriorating water quality that triggered bacterial and fungal infections, scientists from the Faculty of Fisheries, SKUAST-K, Rangil–Ganderbal, revealed.
Indigenous cold-water fish (Schizothorax species) began dying o December 9 across three spring-fed ponds at the temple complex.
Acting on a report from the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Anantnag, a team of aquatic animal health experts visited the site on December 16 to assess water quality and investigate disease causes.
“The mortality cannot be attributed to a single factor. It is a multifactorial problem, primarily driven by low dissolved oxygen and excessive nutrient buildup, which weakened the fish and made them vulnerable to infections,” a member of the investigation team said.
Oxygen stress, nutrient enrichment identified
The scientific report identified oxygen stress and nutrient enrichment as the primary drivers of the mortality.
Water analysis showed dissolved oxygen levels ranging from 4.0 to 4.8 mg/L—well below the recommended 6–12 mg/L required for cold-water fish.
“Such low oxygen levels cause severe physiological stress. When combined with elevated nutrients like nitrates and phosphorus, the habitat becomes unsuitable for fish survival,” the scientists said, citing the findings of the report.
The study recorded high concentrations of orthophosphate and total phosphorus, pointing to nutrient loading likely caused by organic waste accumulation and unregulated feeding.
“Nutrient enrichment accelerates stress in spring-fed systems and creates conditions conducive to disease outbreaks,” the report said.
Bacterial and fungal infections confirmed
Laboratory and molecular examinations confirmed the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila, a pathogenic bacterium commonly associated with fish mortality under stress conditions.
“PCR-based molecular diagnosis conclusively established the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila in affected fish, confirming its role in the mortality,” the report said.
Fungal infection caused by Saprolegnia parasitica was also detected on the body surface of several fish.
“The fungal infestation is secondary in nature and typically develops when fish immunity is compromised due to environmental stress or bacterial infection,” the scientists said.
Nutrition-linked deformities, tissue damage observed
The report also documented skeletal deformities in some fish, particularly curvature of the spine in the caudal region, which scientists linked to long-term nutritional deficiencies.
“These deformities are consistent with prolonged use of nutritionally imbalanced or sub-standard feed lacking essential micronutrients,” the experts said.
Histopathological examination revealed extensive internal damage
“Gill tissues showed lamellar fusion and epithelial lifting, indicating respiratory distress, while liver tissues exhibited degeneration and necrosis, reflecting chronic stress and disease progression,” the scientists said.
Treatment prescribed, preventive measures advised
To contain the outbreak, the experts recommended the application of hydrogen peroxide to control fungal infection and therapeutic doses of oxytetracycline under expert supervision.
“Treatment must be administered strictly as per the prescribed dosage and duration, and only under professional guidance,” the scientists cautioned.
For long-term prevention, they stressed improving dissolved oxygen through aeration, regular water quality monitoring, and regulated feeding practices.
“Maintaining cleanliness of the springs, avoiding overfeeding, and preventing pilgrims from throwing eatables into the water are essential to safeguarding fish health,” the team said.
The scientists also advised registering the spring system on the Government of India’s Fish Disease Reporting App to enable early detection and rapid response to future outbreaks.
“Sacred, spring-fed water bodies are ecologically sensitive systems. Without scientific management, even these environments can deteriorate rapidly,” the scientists warned, stressing the need to protect both the indigenous fish population and the ecological heritage of the Martand Temple springs.
Meanwhile, the Martand Tirath Trust led by Ashok Kumar Sidha, Mattan Welfare Forum led by Sajad Ahmad Ganai, and other stakeholders who had flagged the issue have expressed gratitude towards Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Syed Fakhrudin Hamid, the Fisheries Department, and the Scientists of SKAUST-K.
