Aquaculture: Disease Control in Fish Farming based on Probiotics

Providing sustainably produced, healthy food for the growing global population is a challenge. Fish and shellfish are high-quality protein sources, but wild catches have stagnated since the late 1980s. Fortunately, aquaculture, which now supplies half of our fish, can meet this demand with lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to livestock farming.

However, infectious diseases, mostly bacterial, significantly impact aquaculture. Antibiotics, commonly used to control these diseases, lead to antibiotic resistance, posing a threat to both fish and human health. The WHO has identified antibiotic resistance as a major global issue.

Vaccination has successfully reduced antibiotic use in some fish species, but it is ineffective for fish larvae and shellfish, which lack developed immune systems. Probiotics, beneficial microorganisms that improve health by providing nutrients, boosting immunity, or inhibiting pathogens, offer a promising alternative for disease control in aquaculture.