Biosecurity Formulations

The world's demands for high quality aquaculture products make control of diseases increasingly important. Good Biosecurity measures are vital to maintaining healthy animals, to harvest good quality yield and to reduce the risk of acquiring diseases in aquaculture facilities.  

Biosecurity can be defined as ‘the measures and methods adopted to secure a disease free environment in all phases of aquaculture practices starting from broodstock/gravid stage to aqua-food process (i.e. hatcheries, nurseries, grow out farms, processing units) for improved profitability’.  

Biosecurity protocols are intended to maintain the "security" of a facility (i.e., prevent entry of, or reduce overall numbers prior to entry) with respect to certain disease-causing organisms (parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi) that may not be present in a particular system by using specific biosecurity products.

In short, food producers have consumer safety as their primary target. If the food they produce is not safe, no economic model works. The second and equally important target is economic prosperity. Part of this process is biosecurity. It touches all the bases: environmental integrity, animal welfare, food safety and economic gain. 

In aquaculture, critical control points are areas in the production process that may present or permit biological hazards. Spotting these areas often requires a little foresight and common sense. One of the challenges faced by aquaculturists is to offer all the life stages of their animal’s proper sanitary conditions and Biosecurity.  A comprehensive biosecurity programme should be in place.  This is essential in combating and preventing disease.  

With the rapid increase in aquaculture practices, the need for disinfectants has also increased. Entry and growth of pathogens must be minimized through use of disinfectants in water, on tanks and equipment and on eggs. Disinfectants used in aquaculture are aimed at all types of infectious agents (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa). The disinfectant must come into direct contact with the disease-causing organism to kill then by releasing proper amounts of active compounds.  

Biosecurity measures are the management practices that prevent non-infected, healthy animal populations from being exposed to infectious or parasitic agents. Common biosecurity measures are - Proper egg disinfection, Control of vertical disease transmission, Strict sanitation measures, Traffic control, Water treatment, Effluent treatment, Clean feed, Disposal of mortalities etc.