Review Article; Occupational Hazards in Fish Industry (original) (raw)

Occupational Hazards in Fish Industry

2012

The current review is directed to workers in aquaculture, fish handlers, consumers, private and governmental fish industry producers and researchers. They should consider the possible occupational hazards and follow regulations and legislations adopted. The occupational hazards, safety concerns and risks to health in the aquaculture industry are based on the types of operation, scale of production and the specific species of interest. Hazard is a biological, chemical, or physical agent with the potential to cause an adverse health effect. Fish grown in excreta-fertilized or wastewater ponds may be contaminated with pathogens. Transgenic fish is hazardous because of their potential allergenicity and toxicity. Awareness of the health hazards involved in the handling of industrial fish is important, particularly for those working in the vicinity of fishing communities. Farmhands and other workers in aquafarms are susceptible to many injuries, noise, sting from fish spines, sprain and f...

Aquaculture Product Safety and Consumer Health An Overview of Aquaculture Public Health Issues

2014

With wild catch of seafood threatened in the face of increasing demand worldwide there has been a marked increase in the production of seafood by aquaculture. A wide variety of species of finfish and shellfish are now grown. With this increase comes more concern for the quality and safety of these fishery products. China is the world’s biggest producer of aquacultured species. Worldwide aquaculture products provide more than 36 % of the world’s total fishery supplies (FAO 2004). Public Health Issues Aquaculture public health issues are highly focused, well known, and understood. Public health issues can be grouped as either environmentally induced

Aquaculture: Environmental, toxicological, and health issues

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2009

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food-producing sectors, supplying approximately 40% of the world's fish food. Besides such benefit to the society, the industry does have its problems. There are occupational hazards and safety concerns in the aquaculture industry. Some practices have caused environmental degradation. Public perception to farmed fish is that they are ''cleaner'' than comparable wild fish. However, some farmed fish have much higher body burden of natural and man-made toxic substances, e.g. antibiotics, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants, than wild fish. These contaminants in fish can pose health concerns to unsuspecting consumers, in particular pregnant or nursing women. Regulations and international oversight for the aquaculture industry are extremely complex, with several agencies regulating aquaculture practices, including site selection, pollution control, water quality, feed supply, and food safety. Since the toxicological, environmental, and health concerns of aquaculture have not been adequately reviewed recently, we are providing an updated review of the topic. Specifically, concerns and recommendations for improving the aquaculture industry, and for protection of the environment and the consumers will be concisely presented.

Scoping Global Aquaculture Occupational Safety and Health

Journal of Agromedicine, 2019

Objectives: In 2017 the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries committed to prioritize occupational safety and health issues in aquaculture (AOSH). An international team was established to synthesize OSH knowledge concerning more than 19 million, often vulnerable, aquaculture workers found globally. Methods: The study was conducted as a desktop scoping exercise using both peer-reviewed and gray literature and the knowledge and expertize of an international panel. Collated information used a standard proforma. Panel members developed draft national and regional AOSH profiles outlining occupational hazards contributing to occupational injuries, diseases, and known solutions. These were work-shopped and refined after gathering additional information and used to compile the first global scoping review report on AOSH. Results: Synthesized results revealed multiple hazards, significant global knowledge gaps and some successful and unsuccessful global, national and industry-specific AOSH policies, practices and standards along the primary supply chain, in marine and freshwater contexts. Some constructive initiatives by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and FAO, industry, labor and civil society groups in a range of employment and geographical settings and across diverse populations of workers were identified. Conclusion: Global commitment to AOSH should be given the same focus as product quality, biosecurity, food safety and environmental sustainability in the sector. This needs development and implementation of integrated AOSH actions appropriate for diverse settings especially in low and middle-income countries encompassing greater uptake of international codes, better risk assessment and OSH management, adoption of technological innovations, effective OSH regulation and enforcement, adequate resources, training and information.

Occupational Hazards and Injuries Associated with Fish Processing in Nigeria

Fish processing, the activities associated with fish and fish products between the time fish are caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer; is fraught with potential hazards and risks which are categorized into occupational, environmental, food safety and public health. This paper reviewed major hazards, injuries and risks associated with the fish processing industry in Nigeria. It further proffered strategies for their management and control. Fish industry stakeholders should therefore ensure that guidelines and policies which promote an environmentally friendly and sustainable industry are instituted and enforced.

Fish Health Considerations for Recirculating Aquaculture

2014

FA 0001A December 2014 Fish health is critical to aquaculture production. Health impacts the ability to complete the production cycle in a predictable manner, market a high-quality product, and ultimately generate the greatest possible revenue. Sick and stressed fish do not eat to their full capacity, which means they do not grow at their optimal rate. When this occurs, the fish may have an appearance that is not acceptable to consumers, such as skin lesions. Fish that do not grow cost the farmer time and money in labor, feed, and other resources. The farmer must provide the optimal environmental conditions for the fish to grow so that they remain healthy and achieve their full potential. This publication will cover concepts that affect fish health such as how to identify and prevent diseases, how to treat issues as they arise, and the regulatory aspects of treating and transporting fish.