Diseased fish in the freshwater trade: from retailers to private aquarists (original) (raw)

DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS Dis Aquat Org

Millions of fish are transported between countries annually for the aquarium trade, yet no quantitative study has examined how disease frequency differs among species and stakeholders. Here we visually inspected freshwater fish species in 12 specialised and non-specialised aquarium retailers in Spain for the presence of diseased fish in 2015 and in 2016. This information was complemented with disease records from 3 internet fora (>100 000 users) and pathogen identification at a retailer. Overall, 22 fish species out of the 312 recorded were reported diseased, with species of Poeciliidae accounting for most records. Ichthyophthirius, dropsy, bacterial and monogenean infections were the most common diseases, but disease frequency differed amongst retailers and private aquarists. Although only 11 fish species at retailers were deemed unhealthy, they were popular species amongst aquarists. We encourage improved management of fish stocks, and more education campaigns to promote fish welfare and avoid misdiagnosis in the Spanish aquarium hobby.

Fish health in Mediterranean Aquaculture, past mistakes and future challenges

Bulletin of The European Association of Fish Pathologists, 2016

A significant production in European aquaculture consists of production of approximately 135.000 tons of European sea bass and 139.000 tons of gilthead sea bream in the Mediterranean basin according to FEAP. Despite the relevance of these species, both in terms of production and economic value, no specific provision is given in the legislation regarding the survey of important diseases. All information available about infectious diseases and priorities to further develop this production are quite fragmented and jeopardized. Since 2012 EURL for Fish Diseases started a survey involving a number of private and institutional experts depicting the most important diseases. Each year the data are compiled and presented at the EURL Annual Workshop. The increasing relevance of the health aspects in the Mediterranean aquaculture seems to require more accurate and comprehensive interpretation involving as much professionals as possible. The initiative of this workshop was build in order to cre...

AS WE SEE IT Reared fish, farmed escapees and wild fish stocks-a triangle of pathogen transmission of concern to Mediterranean aquaculture management

Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 2013

Although aquaculture in the Mediterranean is a relatively young industry, finfish diseases have been reported to cause considerable problems and mortalities among the farmed stocks. In general, the farming activity and the open design of Mediterranean aquaculture systems allow the transmission of infectious pathogens within and among farm facilities. Fish health and biosecurity programmes at farms have focused on the most obvious pathways for transmission of pathogens, i.e. through transport of infected farmed fish from hatcheries, infected equipment, staff and vessels, as well as through water currents. However, little attention has been devoted to the potential risk of pathogen and disease transmission in Mediterranean open-sea aquaculture through movements of fish. The present study focuses on the importance of considering possible pathogen transmission between reared fish, farmed escapees and farm-aggregated fish when making management decisions.

Deliverable 3.1 - Diagnostic methods for Mediterranean farmed fish

2020

Despite the technological progress applied in recent years to the various production phases of Mediterranean Marine Fish Farming (MMFF), from reproduction to nutrition, several welfare and health issues of farmed fish still represent relevant limiting factors for sustainable production. In particular, the attempts to increase and diversify MMFF productions have been often accompanied by the emergence or reoccurrence of transmissible diseases strongly conditioned by management and environmental factors with consequent significant economic losses and repercussions on fish welfare and health parameters. The experience gained in the attempt to control diseases has amply demonstrated that the treatment (when applicable) is often not conclusive, highlighting that the "disease event" is the result of many interacting factors linked to the pathogen, the host and the environment (intended as production system and surrounding ecosystem), which underly the occurrence of disease and i...

Bottlenecks in diagnostics of Mediterranean fish diseases

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), 2020

Three independent Horizon 2020 projects are prioritising a common task of solving diagnostic issues using different approaches and strategies. PerformFISH focuses its research objectives on diagnostic methods, MedAID has prepared a diagnostic manual for the most devastating fish diseases of the Mediterranean and ParaFishControl has prepared a diagnostic manual on parasitic diseases of European aquaculture species. Currently, the projects are investing large collaborative efforts to reinforce their tasks and to deliver mutual and cutting-edge material on the subject. Nevertheless, further efforts for the harmonisation, standardisation and validation of diagnostic methods for infectious diseases in Mediterranean aquaculture are needed, involving as many relevant stakeholders and experts as possible. The main goal of the workshop (WS) "Bottlenecks in diagnostics of Mediterranean fish diseases", organised during the 19 th International EAFP conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish, was to present results already obtained from the projects and discuss the bottlenecks in diagnostic procedures of target groups of pathogens. The WS provided an ideal environment and opportunity to exchange and discuss experiences and data with international experts in the diagnostic field attending the conference. Interactive discussions on diagnostics for a specific group of pathogens have resulted in highlighting new initiatives needed in the management of diseases in Mediterranean aquaculture. Furthermore, the WS emphasised a need for the establishment of this strong interactive network which will collaborate to receive, collect, compile and analyse all information gathered from different parts of the region.

Infectious Diseases Affect Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture Economics

Annual Review of Marine Science, 2015

Seafood is a growing part of the economy, but its economic value is diminished by marine diseases. Infectious diseases are common in the ocean, and here we tabulate 67 examples that can reduce commercial species' growth and survivorship or decrease seafood quality. These impacts seem most problematic in the stressful and crowded conditions of aquaculture, which increasingly dominates seafood production as wild fishery production plateaus. For instance, marine diseases of farmed oysters, shrimp, abalone, and various fishes, particularly Atlantic salmon, cost billions of dollars each year. In comparison, it is often difficult to accurately estimate disease impacts on wild populations, especially those of pelagic and subtidal species. Farmed species often receive infectious diseases from wild species and can, in turn, export infectious agents to wild species. However, the impact of disease export on wild fisheries is controversial because there are few quantitative data demonstrating that wild species near farms suffer more from infectious diseases than those in other areas. The movement of exotic infectious agents to new areas continues to be the greatest concern. 471 Annu. Rev. Marine. Sci. 2015.7:471-496. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org Access provided by University of California -Santa Barbara on 01/07/15. For personal use only.

Deliverable 3.2 - Epidemiological status of Mediterranean farmed fish

2020

As many other farming activities, aquatic animals and particularly finfish can be affected by several infectious and non-infectious diseases. The specific diseases and pathogens or other causes triggering the development of these diseases, since there are usually multifactorial, can be related to a number of different factors: characteristics of the infectious agents, affected fish species or genetic susceptibility, environment and environmental conditions, geographical parameters, and farming systems amongst others.

Ecopathology in aquaculture: risk factors in infectious disease outbreak

Veterinary research, 1995

This paper describes a study of the risk factors associated with disease outbreaks in fish species of fish farms and rivers of north-east Spain. We focused our work on the isolation of fish pathogens (bacteria, virus), the water quality (physicochemical and microbiological quality) and management characteristics. We have observed 2 important viral diseases, infectious pancreatic necrosis and spring viraemia of carp, and 2 important bacterial ones, furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida) and bacterial kidney disease (BKD) (Renibacterium salmoninarum). Our preliminary results show that there are some potential risk factors associated with the main diseases of fish, such as fish age, fish species, production system, season and water temperature, but their role depends on the disease.