Fish Health and Diseases

Aquaculture, beyond doubt, is the fastest growing food-producing sector in the world. The important role of aquaculture in providing aquatic animal protein to make up for the shortfall in wild fisheries, and its socio-economic role in providing livelihood opportunities and economic security, particularly for the less-developed regions of the world, is now being strongly recognised globally. However, the threat of disease has now become a primary constraint and risk to the growth of the aquaculture sector, significantly impeding both economic and socio-economic development in regions dependant on aquaculture and fisheries. The importance of prevention and control of disease risks as a measure to reduce production losses in commercial, semi-commercial and small-scale aquaculture systems has thus received increased attention. This book provides an overview of aquatic animal health problems and their risks to fishery livelihoods. It briefly describes various diseases affecting aquatic animals; environmental risk factors in aquaculture contributing to aquatic animal health problems; technical guidelines for aquatic health management and advantages of different approaches to the prevention of aquatic animal diseases. The primary audience for this book will be graduate and post graduate students of aquaculture and related subjects. It will also appropriate for field scientists, fish farmers, fish consultants and managers of private and public fish health management bodies.