Approaches to problems of disease in aquaculture

The conditions which lead to profitable culture ventures are, unfortunately, also conditions which promote development of new diseases as well as the maintenance and spread of established diseases. These conditions include monoculture in concentrations and conditions which adversely affect the well-being of the animals. Most culture operations have grown to a large size without much experience with disease; as a consequence, the science to combat disease initially was also extremely limited. Thus, the various approaches used have had to include large borrowings from medical and veterinary sciences. Systems approaches and comprehensive integrated husbandry where disease is controlled more through good practice than by specific treatments of individuals have not been developed to the same extent because their value has not been fully understood or appreciated.

This article is part of Marine Science Symposia Volume 192 - "The ecology and management aspects of extensive mariculture". To access other articles from this volume, please use the link to the volume on the upper right hand side.