Preventive Strategies and Health Management Framework for Controlling Fish Diseases in Aquaculture: Review Paper

Abstract

Aquaculture has become one of the most rapidly expanding food production industries of the planet, but its sustainability is rapidly diminishing due to the popularity of infectious diseases that lead to substantial financial losses and deterioration of fish welfare. The management of diseases in aquaculture will require transition to preventive treatment of diseases through an integrated health management system rather than reactive treatment. The present review summarizes the existing evidence in the area of preventive measures, such as biosecurity, water quality control, vaccination, the use of immunostimulants, pro- & prebiotics, and dietary interventions, the use of early disease detection techniques. The framework focuses on the use of a holistic approach through the integration of environmental management, host resistance enhancement, and pathogen control to minimize outbreaks of diseases. Besides, the paper emphasizes the significance of the ecosystem-based management, training of farmers, and policy-level intervention to reinforce the measures of the disease control. Issues like antibiotic resistance, the effects of climate changes, and inaccessibility to vaccines in the developing world are also addressed. Through the description of strengths and weakness of current approaches, the review offers a holistic basis of designing sustainable, preventive and adaptive health management models within aquaculture. The results support the importance of using multidisciplinary efforts to achieve fish health, food security, and sustainability of the aquaculture industry.