Protecting the health of farmed aquatic animals: Expert and scientific solutions for aquaculture farmers

Dr. Truong Dinh Hoai, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries, Head of the Aquatic Animal Disease Research Group (Vietnam National University of Agriculture): Returning to more environmentally friendly farming practices

First, farmers should adopt more environmentally friendly methods, promoting ecological and nature-based farming models. Investment in intensive and super-intensive farming must go hand in hand with developing nature-based models to maintain ecological balance and protect the environment.

Second, farming models must implement disease management at an early stage, coupled with proactive preventive measures, strengthen the application of biotechnology for early diagnosis, and increase the use of probiotics and immune-enhancing products for aquatic animals. This will help prevent diseases effectively and sustainably instead of relying on antibiotics and chemicals, which is still a common practice at present.

Third, farmers need to proactively improve their knowledge of diseases and epidemiology of the common illnesses affecting the specific aquatic species they raise. To farm effectively, one must clearly understand disease characteristics and risks, while being willing to acquire new knowledge from scientists and regulatory agencies to shift perceptions and increase initiative in disease prevention and control.

Fourth, it is crucial to minimize environmental pollution from farming activities, avoiding the spread of pathogens into the environment. When a disease occurs, farmers must promptly report to authorities so that safe measures can be taken to prevent the spread. At the same time, aquaculture communities or cooperatives should be established in each farming area to support one another in implementing biosecurity, coordinating responses, and preventing pathogens from escalating into outbreaks.

Fifth, farmers should proactively take up and apply new farming technologies, making better use of advances in biotechnology for aquaculture. They should also strengthen exchanges and learning from advanced models, especially those that have proven effective in proactive disease prevention.

Sixth, knowledge and skills in diagnosis, sample submission for testing, early detection, and timely treatment need to be enhanced to minimize losses and prevent the spread of disease on a large scale.

The most important principle is to use antibiotics and chemicals responsibly toward the community and society. Implementing this principle seriously not only improves disease control but also contributes to enhancing the quality and value of products, heading toward a safe and sustainable aquaculture industry.

Dr. Tran Huu Loc, Lecturer at the Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University - Ho Chi Minh City: Viewing disease prevention through the lens of proactive understanding

In the future, with increasing intensification of production plus the impacts of climate change and environmental pollution, more diseases are likely to rise, mostly bacterial and microsporidian diseases.

Therefore, disease prevention must be approached from the perspective of proactive understanding in order to manage pathogens consistently across the production chain. Production system design must be based on scientific knowledge and epidemiology.

Particularly in the case of shrimp farming, there must be scientific production processes that create a stable, low-pollution environment, minimizing stress. The aquaculture industry needs more measures to ensure a sustainable microbial ecosystem in ponds, and a deeper understanding of nutrition and animal health enhancement.

Dr. Ngo Tien Chuong, Senior Technical Officer, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): Building disease management plans in line with sustainable aquaculture planning

Aquaculture is currently one of Vietnam’s key export sectors, but it still faces many risks. Diseases often cause major economic losses, increase treatment costs and crop failure rates, thus directly affecting export supply.

Several underlying factors require particular attention, including unfavorable environmental conditions due to climate change and pollution, unsustainable intensive farming models, poor seed quality, overuse of antibiotics and chemicals, and ineffective disease management.

To proactively prevent and minimize losses, solutions must directly address the root causes. This includes strict management of broodstock origins, encouraging the use of disease-free seed, building transparent supply chains, and strictly penalizing substandard seed production and trade.

It also requires strengthening the capacity of the aquatic veterinary system, developing practical handbooks, building community-based warning networks, and promoting training and information sharing between regulatory agencies, farmers, and businesses.

Farms can detect and address risk factors in time by regularly performing water monitoring, developing early warning systems, stocking with reasonable densities, and applying technological innovation. On the other hand, competent authorities must strengthen management of veterinary medicine with a shift toward probiotics, herbal remedies, vaccines, and nutritional solutions to improve aquatic animal resistance.

One important thing is the development of disease management plans in association with sustainable farming planning, including surveillance and early warning systems, biosecurity regulations, broodstock and feed management, and antibiotic use. Research and technology transfer for new disease prevention methods should be further encouraged.

With the comprehensive implementation of these solutions, Vietnam’s aquaculture sector can gradually control diseases, minimize risks, ensure production efficiency, and maintain its role as a pillar of national seafood exports.

Nguyen Huu Vinh, Director of VMC Vietnam Co., Ltd.: Regularly updating advisories from state management agencies and experts

With a population of nearly 100 million, Vietnam is one of the world’s leading seafood exporters. Its aquaculture scale will certainly continue to be maintained and even expanded in the near future.

However, the challenges ahead are significant, arising from the impacts of climate change, inappropriate farming practices, and farming technologies that are not yet fully developed or optimized. This makes diseases in aquatic animals increasingly complex, especially those caused by external parasites and bacteria.

Farmers need to pay attention to several key issues to proactively prevent and minimize risks. First, they must choose farming scales and densities appropriate to their management capacity and market demand. The next step is to use quality broodstock with clear and legitimate origins. The nutrition factor must also be carefully considered, so the selected feed must be appropriate for each species and developmental stage.

Farmers should regularly access and update advisories from state management agencies, university experts, aquaculture drug companies, and diagnostic and testing centers to respond promptly and effectively.