Preventing disease in aquaculture

A biosecurity plan helps prevent disease and maintain biosecurity in aquaculture environments. When developing a biosecurity plan, consider your current practices, including planning and design, introducing new animals, dealing with sick animals, chemical usage and records management.

Planning and design

Prepare a biosecurity plan to help you prevent and manage the diagnosis of a declared disease or other serious disease event on your farm. Good farm design and construction will limit the chance of disease outbreaks and of stock escaping.

Introducing new animals

If you plan to introduce new animals you should source them from disease-free farms and make sure you arrange health testing and disease-free certification. Also consider isolating any new animals from the rest of your farm for an appropriate period of time.

Find out more about moving live aquatic animals.

Dealing with sick animals

Remove sick and dying animals as soon as possible and treat them in a quarantine section, or dispose of them appropriately, so there is no contamination of healthy animals or the aquatic environment.

Chemical usage

You must comply with the relevant regulations on the use of chemicals. Be aware of registered chemicals for use in aquaculture and when you will need to consult a registered vet. Make sure all staff are aware of any chemicals used and that they are trained in the safe storage, use and handling of chemicals.

Find out more about using chemicals in aquaculture.

Records management

Record all movements and disposals of aquatic animals, including their source and destination. Also record all outbreaks of sickness and associated death, and measure and record growth rates. Keeping records of staff and equipment movement, including feed, may help to trace the source of disease introduction.

Find out more about preventing disease in aquaculture in the Health management technical guidelines for aquaculture (PDF, 59KB).

Also consider...

• Find out more about using agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
• Identify and report disease in aquaculture.
• Learn about aquaculture and white spot disease.