Health management for sustainable aquaculture

Aquaculture is a dynamic activity. To be successful and sustainable in this business, new techniques have to be continually developed, and adopted by farmers. Over the last decade, sustainability has become a key word for many different activities, including aquaculture. Many factors are involved in aquaculture sustainability, and health management has an important role among these. In order for aquatic animal health management at the farm level to aid the achievement of optimum yields, the following issues should be considered: suitable site selection, quality of broodstock and seed, reasonable stocking density, feed and feeding programme, water management, prophylactic and therapeutic treatment, and information dissemination. The sustainability of aquaculture at the national and regional levels requires different considerations among which are national policy, assistance priorities for farmers, legislation needs, technology development, and information needs.