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Antibiotics in Aquaculture
Antibiotics in Aquaculture
Antibiotics in Aquaculture
Is Responsible Use Possible?
Summary:
Regulations on antibi-
otic use in aquaculture
vary by country and
region, from outright
bans to minimal over-
sight. Beyond legali-
ties, the responsible
use of antibiotics in
aquaculture entails fol-
lowing protocols that
ensure the compounds
are effectively used for
particular diseases in
a manner that limits
adverse impacts on
the environment and
public health.
Proper use of approved antibiotics can significantly reduce the financial impacts of diseases.
Stephen G. Newman, Ph.D. ed are permitted to be used. As long as the tenets of ap-
President, Chief Executive Officer propriate use are followed, this does not automatically
AquaInTech, Inc. present a problem.
Copyright © 2007, Global Aquaculture Alliance. Do not reproduce without permission.
Since many aquatic diseases are stress-related, minimizing Antibiotic use is the best way to deal with
stress on animals by maintaining a clean, healthy culture bacterial problems in fish and shrimp.
environment can be an effective alternative to antibiotics. Many diseases in aquatic animals are stress-related.
Bacterial pathogens invade weakened animals, and dis-
eases may be self-limiting and recurrent.
proper amount of time and under the correct environ-
While antibiotics can effectively stop acute mortality
mental conditions. Failure to do so can increase the like-
when animals are eating, they are not the best tools for
lihood of selection for resistant bacteria.
dealing with the problem in the long run. Addressing the
Bacteria readily exchange genetic material between
underlying cause of a disease is a better management
species, with the end result that resistance can spread.
tool. This usually entails such things as controlling path-
When the abuse of antibiotics results in resistant human
ogen loads and minimizing stress on animals by main-
pathogens, the tragic results can be death and suffering
taining a clean and healthy environment. Disease is the
from diseases that were once easily treatable. result of a complex interaction between the pathogen,
the host, and the environment – control measures should
Misconceptions take this into account.
While there are valid concerns regarding antibiotics,
there are also many misconceptions about antibiotic use. It is OK to promote growth and improved feed
Explanations of those most relevant to aquaculture follow. conversion with antibiotics.
While this may be legal in some sectors, many in the
Any use of antibiotics in aquaculture is bad. field consider this an unacceptable practice that consti-
There is always a place for the responsible use of an- tutes abuse. It is not legal in the United States.
tibiotics in any agricultural practice. Proper use should
result in reduction in the financial impact of the disease It is OK to prevent disease problems
process and improved profitability without the associat- with antibiotics.
ed down sides of improper use. There are some cases where it makes sense to use an
antibiotic to prevent a recurrent disease problem, but
There are good and bad antibiotics. this is the exception rather than the rule. Responsible use
Antibiotics are neither good nor bad. It is how they precludes this approach to disease management in the
are used that is good or bad. vast majority of cases.
Several antibiotics have been banned for use in aqua-
culture, including chloramphenicol and the nitrofurans. Responsible Decisions
Additional antibiotics will likely be banned, as well. The Antibiotics are sometimes abused in human medi-
decision to ban these materials was based on the pres- cine, agriculture, and aquaculture, too. The responsible
ence of residues in final products that consumers would use of antibiotics in aquaculture entails following proto-
purchase. Political, rather than strict scientific concerns cols that ensure the compounds are effectively used for
are usually the basis for setting action levels. particular diseases in a manner that limits adverse im-
As with any disparate group of chemicals, antibiotics pacts on the environment and public health.
can have a variety of undesirable side effects that range Aquafarmers have choices, and consistently making
from minimal to death. Responsible use of antibiotics is the right ones would go a long way toward ensuring con-
required to ensure the absence of residues. tinued access to the critical antibiotics that are legiti-
mately needed once in a while. Using these products in
Antibiotic residues are inherently bad. the absence of a diagnosis is simply not responsible. De-
Antibiotics are molecules that animals ingest, metabo- cision makers need to implement appropriate strategies
lize, and excrete. Different drugs are metabolized in differ- which consider that the long-term financial costs associ-
ent ways and have different half-lives in different animals. ated with failure to use antibiotics properly outweigh
Some antibiotics have allowable residues, while others any short-term benefit derived from their usage.
38 March/April 2007 GLOBAL AQUACULTURE ADVOCATE