Controlling the top 3 disease factors in aquaculture

Strengthening disease control capacity

On November 27, in Can Tho City, the Directorate of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the Dutch Embassy hosted the forum “Vietnam-Netherlands Businesses: Practical Solutions for Sustainable Aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.” The event brought together experts and scientists to discuss and propose solutions for sustainable aquaculture development.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien highlighted that the Mekong Delta is the nation’s largest producer of rice, fruits, and seafood. Representing 28% of the sector, the seafood industry is recovering after a challenging period and is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2024.

The Mekong Delta focuses on developing key aquatic products like pangasius and shrimp. The fisheries sector must find solutions to tackle environmental pollution, upgrade infrastructure, and raise public awareness on disease prevention.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that Vietnam and the Netherlands share many similarities in natural conditions, climate, and water resource management challenges. The forum offers an opportunity for both sides to exchange experiences, discuss cooperation plans, and strengthen the long-lasting partnership between the two countries.

At the forum, experts discussed managing the “disease triangle” in aquaculture, which includes three key factors: host, pathogen, and environment. All three directly influence the success or failure of the industry. When these factors align in a favorable environment, disease outbreaks occur.

Dr. Dang Thi Hoang Oanh, Senior Lecturer at Can Tho University, recommends improving the living environment, maintaining optimal stocking density, and enhancing feed quality to strengthen host resistance.

She explains that small environmental changes, like pH levels or water temperature, can stress the host, weaken its immune system, and increase susceptibility to diseases.

Hoang Oanh advised, “For shrimp, farmers should choose disease-free, resilient strains from reputable suppliers and pre-grow them in ponds for 3-4 weeks to minimize infection risks. For pangasius, pond owners must prepare the water, administer vaccines, and implement early disease diagnosis methods before stocking.

Experts agree that it is impossible to control all three factors of the “disease triangle” simultaneously. While farmers can manage environmental conditions with modern equipment, controlling seed quality is not feasible, particularly for white-leg shrimp, which rely on foreign supplies.

Dr. Vu Ngoc Ut, Rector of the Fisheries University at Can Tho University, emphasized, “Training programs should be held to improve farmers’ disease prevention skills. Additionally, collaboration between authorities, farmers, and training centers should be strengthened to address topics directly related to production practices. A network connecting breeders and seed suppliers should also be established to create a cycle for controlling disease-causing factors.”

Focusing on the 7 key tasks

A representative from the D-Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) shared that the Ministry has outlined seven key tasks to ensure the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the coming period.

First, enforce the Fisheries Law and existing regulations to ensure aquaculture compliance, while finalizing the legal framework by 2027. Invest in aquaculture infrastructure to address climate change. Develop aquaculture based on ecological regions, establish concentrated farming zones, and expand sustainable farming models that ensure traceability and strengthen value chain links to improve efficiency.

The D-Fisheries emphasized the importance of a circular economy to efficiently use by-products in aquaculture and seafood processing. It stressed the need to strengthen connections between farmers, processors, and exporters to optimize product value and ensure the sustainable growth of the seafood industry.

VFM