January 1^st, 2000

Blanco MM., Gibello A. and Fernandez-Garayzabal JF..

Chapter included in Global quality assessment in Mediterranean aquaculture edited by CIHEAM-IAMZ

As aquaculture assumes an expanding role in meeting consumer demands for fishery products, it is natural that they meet safety and quality standards. In addition to residues of agro-chemicals, veterinary drugs
and heavy metal organic and inorganic contamination, infectious fish diseases represent one of the most important problems and challenges in aquaculture production, both from an economic and sanitary point of view. Diseases increase cost and reduce profit because of loss in dead fish, cost of treatment or decreased growth rate of diseased and convalescent fish. The fish is usually exposed to pathogens or potential pathogens, but in fish diseases, a simple association between the pathogen and the host fish does not occur. Environmental
circumstances that arise in intensive fish farming systems represent a considerable stress, making fish more susceptible to a wide variety of pathogens. In aquaculture, many of the potential hazards at the production level can be controlled by good fish farm management practices, which control infectious diseases and improve the
safety of the products. Successful fish health management starts with prevention of disease rather than treatment, and this is accomplished through the implementation of integrated measures at the production level. This global management will contribute to produce safer fish products