Health & Welfare

Predatory birds can cause major losses for tilapia farms. As some bird species are protected by law, fish farmers must use non-lethal control techniques. 

The Scottish salmon industry is facing criticism following the release of sea lice statistics and acknowledgement that up to 10 million salmon – a quarter of all stocks – were thrown away last year as a result of disease, parasites and other issues. 

In this third and final part, authors present recommendations to help reduce the incidence of Zoea-2 Syndrome, which is not caused by any known infectious agents in P. vannamei hatcheries in India. 

Indian shrimp hatcheries have experienced larval mortality in the zoea-2 stage, with molt deterioration and resulting in heavy mortality. Authors considered biotic and abiotic factors. Part 2 describes results of their study. 

Indian shrimp hatcheries have experienced larval mortality in the zoea-2 stage, with molt deterioration and resulting in heavy mortality. Authors investigated the problem holistically. 

A major goal of selective breeding program for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Egypt is to select for fillet color and fillet weight in response to consumer preferences. 

Many shrimp producers give only perfunctory attention to routine biosecurity at hatcheries and farms. A cost-effective biosecurity program for farmed shrimp requires reliable diagnostic tools to make timely decisions to control or exclude pathogens. 

In eight genetic improvement programs in seven different countries, growth improvements have been constant in all programs, with annual improvement rates between 5 and 12 percent. Improvements in survival rates are less predictable and less consistent. 

Phytoplankton has several important effects on water quality, including removing ammonia nitrogen from water and absorbing nutrients from the water for its growth. Abundance of blue-green algae tends to increase as nutrient inputs in aquafeeds or fertilizers increase. 

Stocking the best quality shrimp postlarvae, healthy and free of pathogens, is a critical management step with significant effects on the production and profitability of a shrimp farm. 

DNA barcoding and nucleic acid sequencing technologies are important tools to build and maintain an identification library of aquacultured and other aquatic species that is accessible online for the scientific, commercial and regulatory communities. 

An international research effort has commenced to find a solution for Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV), a contagion causing high rates of mortality in farmed and wild tilapia stocks in Israel, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt and Thailand. 

Agricultural limestone is widely used to improve pH and alkalinity in aquaculture ponds. There is considerable use of lime in aquaculture to disinfect pond bottoms and water, to attempt to control pH, and various other reasons. 

Biosecurity measures and preventive strategies are essential in any biological production chain. Properly planned and implemented biosecurity programs will enhance animal health, production and economics. 

The next step for shrimp breeding will be developing animals that aren’t just disease-free, but increasingly resistant to multiple pathogens. The industry is globalizing, with suppliers setting up shop overseas. But its birthplace will always be Hawaii.