Disease Management and Welfare in Aquaculture

Infectious disease is one of the most significant welfare challenges in aquaculture, causing mass mortality events and chronic suffering in affected fish populations.

Key Facts

Infectious salmon anaemia, IHN, and amoebic gill disease cause major mortality in salmon farms
Sea lice cause open lesions on salmon and cost the industry hundreds of millions annually
Biosecurity failures can introduce disease to previously clean farms with catastrophic consequences
Vaccination has transformed disease management for several important salmon pathogens
Prophylactic antibiotic use in aquaculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance concerns

Welfare Considerations

Fish experiencing infectious disease suffer pain, physiological distress, and in severe cases mass mortality events. Biosecurity-based prevention reduces disease pressure while avoiding the welfare impacts of chemical treatment. Vaccination programmes have dramatically reduced the need for antibiotic treatment for some diseases. The welfare and production incentives for disease prevention are aligned, making investment in biosecurity economically rational as well as welfare-positive.

What You Can Do

Support aquaculture certification requiring documented biosecurity and disease management protocols
Choose certified farmed fish from operations with strong disease management records
Advocate for antibiotic stewardship requirements in aquaculture certification
Support research into vaccines and biosecurity methods for emerging aquaculture diseases
Encourage adoption of closed containment systems that reduce disease risk