Aquaculture Welfare

Aquaculture Antibiotic Stewardship

Antibiotic use in aquaculture poses welfare and public health risks, with vaccination programmes and improved biosecurity offering pathways to reduced antibiotic dependence.

Key Facts

Norway dramatically reduced salmon antibiotic use through comprehensive vaccination programmes
Some Asian shrimp farming systems use antibiotics extensively with resistance implications
Prophylactic antibiotic use without disease present is prohibited in EU aquaculture
Biosecurity improvements reduce disease incidence and therefore antibiotic need
Antibiotic reduction and animal welfare are compatible goals when supported by disease prevention

Welfare Considerations

Excessive antibiotic use in aquaculture reflects underlying disease problems that cause animal suffering while contributing to resistance that threatens human and animal health. Vaccination and biosecurity improvements address disease at source, improving both welfare and antibiotic stewardship.

What You Can Do

Choose certified aquaculture products from producers with antibiotic reduction programmes
Support research into aquaculture vaccine development to reduce antibiotic dependence
Advocate for global aquaculture antibiotic use reporting and reduction targets