Aquaculture

Aquaculture Antibiotic Stewardship and Welfare Link

Antibiotic use in aquaculture affects welfare through disease prevention while contributing to antimicrobial resistance that threatens both animal and human health.

Key Facts

Global aquaculture antibiotic use is estimated at thousands of tonnes annually
Norway reduced salmon antibiotic use by over 99% through vaccination development
High antibiotic use reflects welfare failure through high disease burden
Withdrawal periods ensure antibiotic residues fall below safety limits before harvest
AMR from aquaculture antibiotic use is a global public health concern

Welfare Considerations

Antibiotic use is a welfare indicator - farms requiring high antibiotic use have higher disease burdens reflecting poor underlying welfare conditions. Reducing antibiotic use through vaccination, biosecurity, and welfare improvement is simultaneously good for animal welfare and public health.

What You Can Do

Choose aquaculture products from low-antibiotic certified producers
Support development and adoption of aquaculture vaccines to replace antibiotics
Advocate for mandatory antibiotic use reporting in aquaculture certification
Learn about antimicrobial resistance and its connection to aquaculture welfare