Aquaculture

Aquaculture Parasite Management and Fish Welfare

Parasite management in aquaculture is critical for fish welfare, with different species facing distinct parasite challenges.

Key Facts

Amoebic gill disease (AGD) caused by Neoparamoeba perurans is a major welfare concern in salmonids
Freshwater treatments (Bathing) for AGD cause acute handling and osmotic stress
Catfish in Asian aquaculture face significant protozoan and helminth parasite burdens
Parasite-induced welfare harms include gill damage, reduced oxygen uptake and immune compromise
Integrated pest management reduces reliance on individual treatment chemicals

Welfare Considerations

Parasitic infections cause direct welfare harm through tissue damage, impaired respiration and immune compromise. Treatment also causes welfare impacts from handling stress, chemical exposure and osmoregulatory disruption. Minimising both infection pressure and treatment frequency through prevention and IPM represents the optimal welfare approach.

What You Can Do

Support certified aquaculture with integrated parasite management standards
Advocate for welfare assessment of treatment methods in aquaculture regulation
Choose seafood from farms with transparent disease and treatment reporting
Support research into low-impact parasite management methods