Aquaculture Health Management and Biosecurity Practices
Summary
Aquaculture health management integrates preventive, diagnostic and responsive strategies to safeguard farmed aquatic organisms against infectious and non-infectious threats. Core components include site design to minimise pathogen entry, water quality control, immunoprophylaxis and therapeutic interventions. Biosecurity practices encompass physical barriers, disinfection protocols, controlled animal movement and staff hygiene to reduce disease transmission risk. Risk assessment frameworks guide resource allocation, prioritising high-risk sites and pathways for surveillance and contingency planning. Emerging approaches exploit molecular diagnostics for rapid pathogen detection, selective breeding for disease resistance and digital tools for real-time health monitoring. Effective health management underpins sustainable production, food safety and economic viability by reducing mortality, limiting chemical use and preserving environmental integrity.
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Aquaculture Health Management and Biosecurity Practices publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in aquaculture health management and biosecurity practices across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biosecurity measures: Integrated protocols to prevent entry and spread of pathogens within and between production sites.
Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS): A closed-loop water management system that filters, treats and reuses culture water to minimise pathogen introduction and environmental discharge.
Risk-based surveillance: Allocation of monitoring and diagnostic efforts according to assessed likelihood of disease introduction and spread.
RNA biopesticide: A sequence-specific ribonucleic acid agent designed to interfere with pathogen gene expression and inhibit disease development.
Pathogen exclusion: Physical or operational barriers (such as screening, disinfection and controlled traffic) deployed to block potential disease vectors.
References
- Viral Threats to Australian Fish and Prawns: Economic Impacts and Biosecurity Solutions—A Systematic Review. Viruses (2025).
- RNA Biopesticides: A Cutting‐Edge Approach to Combatting Aquaculture Diseases and Ensuring Food Security. Modern Agriculture (2024).
- Advancing aquaculture biosecurity: a scientometric analysis and future outlook for disease prevention and environmental sustainability. Aquaculture International (2024).
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