Introduction
Globalization of the aquatic animal
product trade and intensified aquatic
animal production are among the trends
contributing to new market opportunities
for the aquatic farming industry, including
warmwater fish. These trends, however,
have also contributed to the spread of
aquatic pathogens and diseases, which
are a primary constraint to the culture
of many aquatic species. Chronic diseases
hinder performance and profits by
resulting in reduced growth, feedconversion
rates and survival, while acute
disease outbreaks have the potential to
cause mass mortality and devastate an
entire aquaculture enterprise.
Although the ability to manage
aquaculture health issues has increased
tremendously in the last 30 years, the
rapid development of the aquaculture
industry continuously generates new
challenges. The result is an increased
reliance on veterinary medicines1 to help
ensure successful production by preventing
and treating disease outbreaks.
Use of Veterinary Medicines in Aquaculture
Without question, veterinary medicines
have many benefits if used responsibly. They enable the development of industrial-scale
food production systems necessary
to feed society and improve financial gain
for investors.
Veterinary medicines make it possible
to increase production efficiency and
minimize land, water, feed and other
resources that are required to produce a
unit of aquatic food. They are essential to
modern aquaculture production because,
when used wisely, they can improve
on-farm biosecurity and husbandry,
and help sustain the industry.
On the other hand, the misuse of
veterinary medicines could have negative
effects on human food safety and free
trade. Some veterinary medicines used
in aquaculture, such as chloramphenicol,
have been shown to have potentially
harmful effects on human health and
have been banned, reducing the already
limited arsenal of drugs available for
disease treatment. The detection of
chloramphenicol in internationally traded
shrimp caused a slowdown of imports,
resulting in economic losses to producers
and their governments.
Other concerns regarding the inappropriate
or misuse of veterinary medicines include
the potential for drug residues in food, the
development of resistant pathogens and
negative environmental impact.
These concerns have contributed to the
evolution of some profound changes in
the development and use of veterinary
medicines in aquaculture and other
food-producing industries.
Shared Responsibility
In general, it can be stated that the global
trend is toward more stringent and uniform
standards and a more prudent and
responsible use of veterinary medicines
by the aquaculture industry.
Most markets now have regulations
dictating acceptable residue levels that
also address environmental safety.
Improved surveillance and technology
have significantly increased the ability
to detect trace amounts of banned or
restricted substance residues, leading to
improved detection levels.
Animal health product manufacturers are
playing a key role in the responsible use
of veterinary medicines. One contribution
is the development of drugs that have
been specifically researched, developed
and approved for use exclusively in veterinary medicine. An example is the
broad-spectrum antibiotic florfenicol.
The development of veterinary pharmaceuticals
or vaccines for aquaculture and other
food-producing industries requires a
high level of investment, expertise and
documentation; a huge amount of work
and extensive testing goes into ensuring
that an active compound or vaccine
antigen is safe and efficacious for animals,
humans and the environment and that it
will meet all regulatory requirements.
The manufacturing process involves
heightened quality control checks for each
stage of manufacturing, and compliance
with the process and procedures is key to
ensuring the consistency and reliability of
the medicine being produced. Improved
quality control programs are critical for
on-farm performance but also help ensure
that fish products are safe and wholesome
for human consumption.
When a farm uses a registered medicine
in the correct way and follows guidelines
for withdrawal, it can be confident that use
of the product will not result in harmful
residues or cause disruptions in the
trade of foods. This is why it is important
for aquaculture producers to use approved,
branded veterinary medicines instead of
raw drugs or chemicals.
The role of the animal health manufacturer
does not end with release of the product.
The company must also monitor any
unexpected problems such as adverse
reactions that may arise in the field.
Producers and aquatic animal health
professionals, of course, play a critical
role in the prudent and responsible use
of veterinary medicines in aquaculture.
They are increasingly aware of the
need to avoid using medicines, especially
antibiotics, that are essential to human
medicine. There is also increased awareness
about the benefits of susceptibility testing
to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics.
Susceptibility testing demonstrates
whether or not a given antibiotic will be
effective against the pathogen causing
a disease outbreak.
Preventive health management is also
contributing to more prudent and
responsible use of veterinary medicines
in aquaculture. Consider the maturation
of the salmon industry in Norway or
yellowtail culture in Japan, where
vaccination and improved husbandry
have reduced the aquaculture industrys
reliance on veterinary therapeutics
to achieve improved production
and profitability.
Conclusion
In summation, the responsibility for the
prudent and responsible use of veterinary
medicines in aquaculture must be shared
by aquaculture stakeholders.
Governments have a key role to play, as do
producers, health professionals, product
manufacturers and consumers. A major
responsibility for government and the
public sector is to develop and implement
good aquaculture practices; laws and
regulations pertaining to the manufacture,
licensing and use of veterinary medicines
should be made in consultation with
relevant private-sector stakeholders in
a transparent manner and in line with
international standards and guidelines.
Rather than further restrictions, more
prudent and responsible use of veterinary
medicines could be achieved by better
enforcement of current regulations and
improved health extension support to
aquaculture farmers.
The responsible use of veterinary
medicines is not only essential to the
health and safety of animals, consumers
and the environment, but to the
sustainability of commercial aquaculture
production. The use of such medicines
should be part of national and on-farm
health and biosecurity plans, conducted
in accordance with an overall national
policy for aquatic animal health management
and sustainable aquaculture.
September 2012
This article contains information on veterinary pharmaceutical and biological animal health products based on international registration dossiers. It may refer to products that are either not available in your country or are marketed under a different trade name. In addition, the safety and efficacy data and the withholding periods for a specific product may be different depending on local regulations. Consult the the regulatory and technical information on available veterinary drugs in your country.