Fish and Shellfish Health Management

A growing focus on the ethical treatment of fish in aquaculture is gaining importance and should be acknowledged. Emphasis should be placed on research and development in new areas of aquaculture, particularly biotechnology, for diagnosis, vaccine development, and aquatic medicine specifically for cold-blooded animals. The unique health management requirements of aquaculture, which involves delicate cold-blooded animals with less developed immune systems, highly influenced by ambient temperature and environment, and therefore highly susceptible to diseases, must be taken into account.

Seven emerging areas in aquaculture health management have been identified, including non-infectious diseases, the demand for biosecurity measures, zoonotic diseases, immunology and defense mechanisms in fish and shellfish and prophylaxis, biotechnological interventions through the development of diagnostics and vaccines, and aquatic medicine for cold-blooded animals, as well as the welfare of aquatic animals in aquaculture. These emerging issues are addressed in various chapters of this book. The book provides comprehensive, updated information on fish and shellfish health management in 20 chapters, with eight new chapters dedicated to the emerging areas of aquaculture health. Overall, the field of fisheries education in health management has undergone significant changes, with increased information available through research and development, new emerging areas, technologies, and trends in aquaculture.

K. M. Shankar, MFSc, PhD (Microbilogy, Canada). Former Professor of Aquaculture-Fish Health Management & Biotechnology, Former Dean(Fisheries), Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Mangalore-575002, India, and Former Emeritus Scientist, ICAR, New Delhi, Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi.