Health management in hatchery and grow-out mariculture

Mariculture has been steadily growing over the last few decades. To satisfy the increasing demand of local and export markets for fish and to control overexploitation of marine fish species, many countries are expanding mariculture activities. Disease is one of the most limiting factors in mariculture. Intensification of mariculture favours pathogens, which increase disease outbreaks. Diseases are broadly classified into infectious and non-infectious diseases. Infectious diseases are further divided into four groups based on the nature of the pathogen: viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal. Non-infectious diseases are divided into neoplastic diseases, genetic and environmentally induced diseases, and nutritional deficiency diseases. Sustainable aquaculture production can only occur when fish are healthy and free from disease. Fish disease management is a combination of preventing the onset of disease and measures to reduce losses from disease when it occurs