Health & Welfare

Research that has shown fish have the necessary brain structure to feel pain has displaced traditional perspectives and led to additional accounting for fish welfare in aquaculture. 

The development of antimicrobial resistance genes in human pathogens as a consequence of exposure to antibiotics in aquaculture is widely documented. Reports implicate foodborne antibacterial-resistant pathogenic bacteria in human disease. 

Biosecurity can be defined as the operating procedures that shrimp hatchery and farm personnel use to minimize the impacts of disease on their animals. Proper biosecurity measures slow the movement of pathogens and protect unaffected areas. 

Continuous improvement is a critical strategy required for the success of any business, including shrimp farming. Routine programs for farm feed trials that incorporate best practices can contribute to better decision making and a faster improvement. 

Facing emerging viral problems and rising energy costs, the use of biofloc technology in biosecure systems offers an answer for sustainable shrimp aquaculture. The main attributes of biofloc systems in reducing disease risk include the fact that low water exchange improves pathogen exclusion. 

The project produces specific-pathogen-free broodstock with good reproductive performance, fast growth and high survival. More than 60 hatcheries in India have received broodstock from the program. 

The quality flesh and striking coloration of Atlantic spadefish suggest potential in both seafood and ornamental markets. To identify appropriate feeding rates and frequencies, the authors evaluated juvenile spadefish fed daily at varying regimens. 

Fishmeal sparing in aquafeed is often limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors found in plant-derived feedstuffs. Fermentation may be a cost-effective means of addressing such factors and improving utilization of plant ingredients in feed. 

The authors conducted studies to test the performance of young shrimp postlarvae in systems with different approaches to aeration and water handling. Proactive management through proper feed applications and water quality control were critical elements. 

No antimicrobial agent has been developed specifically for aquaculture applications. However, some antibiotic products used to treat humans or land-based animals have been approved for use at aquaculture facilities. 

Vietnam Organic applied an enzymatic hydrolysis process on shrimp head waste to produce a shrimp soluble extract (SSE) feed attractant that contains a mixture of free amino acids and peptide. 

An innovative new diet supports the mass culture of rotifers at the same time it transforms their nutritional composition to meet the requirements of first-feeding fish larvae. As in nature, the diet is based on a mixture of algae-based nutrients to which rotifers respond. 

Western nations consume considerable quantities of pangasius, yet its aquaculture in tropical regions of the hemisphere has not followed. Several countries have approved pangasius aquaculture, and to date no negative environmental impacts have been observed. 

A study compared holding gravid catfish in mesh bags to tanks as a stress-reduction strategy and to improve reproductive performance. 

To combat white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in white shrimp, Corporación Centro de Investigación de la Acuacultura de Colombia (CENIACUA) initiated a selective-breeding program to develop resistance in shrimp.