Aquaculture

Monitoring antibiotic resistance in aquaculture

The problem

Aquaculture - An expanding source of protein

Aquaculture is the most rapidly expanding agri-food sector globally. The global demand for fish has risen by 122% since 1990 (FAO), with aquaculture providing over half of total fish consumption, and is projected to continue its rapid increase.

While aquaculture has positively impacted the lives of millions of people, the use of antimicrobials for disease control in aquaculture is recognised as a contributing factor to the spread of resistance. Due to the rapid growth of the demand and production of farmed aquatic products, it is crucial to closely monitor antimicrobial resistance to ensure the safety of our food and protect public health and the environment.

51%

In 2022, aquaculture produced 94.4 million tonnes of aquatic animals, making up 51% of global production, surpassing capture fisheries for the first time (FAO).

2030

Aquaculture is projected to supply nearly two-thirds of global food fish consumption by 2030, as wild capture fisheries level off and demand increases (World Bank).

How we can help

Find the source

Our service offers the most comprehensive antimicrobial resistance monitoring solutions suitable for the aquaculture industry. Collect samples from feed, water, and waste and compare results over time to effectively pinpoint the main source of antibiotic resistance. We provide end-to-end support to help you profile and identify natural antibiotic resistance profiles and help prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance in your aquaculture operations.

Evaluate your Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS)

In aquaculture systems, water acts as an effective medium for transporting antibiotic resistant microbes and genetic elements between fish and the environment, potentially resulting in contamination of fish and shellfish food products. The RAS plays a central role in managing risks pertaining to antibiotic and antimicrobial contamination, and as such employing quantifiable and routine analysis for antibiotic resistance is a great addition to evaluating its efficiency. 

Stay one step ahead

If preventive measures for contamination are inadequate, this can lead to the development of an antibiotic resistance hotspot within the aquaculture waters. Consequently, it is essential to continuously monitor the recycled and discharged RAS water, and our customized service is designed to support you in this endeavor. 

Benefits

Identify

Identify the AMR profiles within water, feed, waste, and surrounding waterways.

Prevent

Implement an early detection system through regular monitoring of AMR patterns, to prevent the emergence of hotspots.

Improve

Improve and reduce potential biosecurity risks within RAS systems and carefully monitor their effectivity.

”

"Aquaculture is one of the major routes of environmental antibiotic resistance spread to food because water provides easy transport of microbes to fish and shell fish food produtcs. If the production system does not prevent human or animal fecal contamination and antibiotics are used, there is strong selection for antibiotic resistance, including in pathogens, in aquaculture waters."

  Professor James Tiedje

Michigan State University