Aquaculture

Farmed Prawn Disease Prevention Welfare

Disease prevention in farmed prawns is critical for welfare and production, with biosecurity and water quality as primary tools.

Key Facts

White spot syndrome virus causes 100 percent mortality in affected prawn ponds within days
Early mortality syndrome caused by Vibrio bacteria kills juvenile prawns before 35 days
Specific pathogen free broodstock programs reduce disease introduction risk
Water quality management including oxygen and pH monitoring reduces stress-related susceptibility
Probiotic treatments are increasingly used as alternatives to prophylactic antibiotics

Welfare Considerations

Prawns dying from white spot syndrome or early mortality syndrome experience rapid systemic disease and mass mortality. Biosecurity and water quality management prevent this suffering and the massive scale of associated death.

What You Can Do

Support prawn products certified under biosecurity and disease management schemes
Advocate for antibiotic stewardship frameworks in prawn producing countries
Choose prawn products from SPF-certified farms with documented health management