Counter-Insurgents of the Blue Revolution? Parasites and Diseases Affecting Aquaculture and Science

Abstract

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing segment of food production and is expected to supply a growing portion of animal protein for consumption by humans. Because industrial aquaculture developed only recently compared to industrial agriculture, its development occurred within the context of a growing environmental awareness and acknowledgment of environmental issues associated with industrial farming. As such, parasites and diseases have become central criticisms of commercial aquaculture. This focus on parasites and diseases, however, has created a nexus of opportunities for research that has facilitated considerable scientific advances in the fields of parasitology and aquaculture. This paper reviews Myxobolus cerebralis , Lepeophtheirus salmonis , white spot syndrome virus, and assorted flatworms as select marquee aquaculture pathogens, summarizes the status of the diseases caused by each and their impacts on aquaculture, and highlights some of the significant contributions these pathogens have made to the science of parasitology and aquaculture.

Behaviour in the toolbox to outsmart parasites and improve fish welfare in aquaculture

“…Despite all its successes and rapid expansion, aquaculture has concurrently experienced major setbacks associated with diseases and parasites (Molnár ; Meyer ; Seng ; Scholz ; Bondad‐Reantaso et al . ; Blaylock & Bullard ; Buchmann ), and its history is considered a chain of victories over diseases (Sindermann ). For example, commercial culture of Japanese yellowtail ( Seriola quinqueradiata ) commenced in 1961 and has subsequently overcome epidemics caused by vibriosis (1963), nocardiosis and ichthyophoniasis (1967), pseudotuberculosis (1969), streptococcosis (1974) and lymphocystis (1975; Egusa ; Lafferty et al .…”

“…) and damaged public perception of salmon farming (Hansen & Onozaka ). As such, parasites and disease are considered the primary bottleneck that restrains the ‘Blue Revolution’ (Blaylock & Bullard ).…”

“…The development and success of aquaculture technologies has led to aquaculture becoming one of the primary sources of animal protein (Ashche 2008;Teletchea & Fontaine 2014;Ottinger et al 2016), surpassing cattle in global biomass production (Larsen & Roney 2013). Despite all its successes and rapid expansion, aquaculture has concurrently experienced major setbacks associated with diseases and parasites (Moln ar 1987;Meyer 1991;Seng 1997;Scholz 1999;Bondad-Reantaso et al 2005;Blaylock & Bullard 2014;Buchmann 2015), and its history is considered a chain of victories over diseases (Sindermann 1990). For example, commercial culture of Japanese yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) commenced in 1961 and has subsequently overcome epidemics caused by vibriosis (1963), nocardiosis and ichthyophoniasis (1967), pseudotuberculosis (1969), streptococcosis (1974) andlymphocystis (1975;Egusa 1983;Lafferty et al 2015).…”

Susceptibility, behaviour, and retention of the parasitic salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) differ with Atlantic salmon population origin

“…The unintentional increase in parasites through production systems has led to greater infection pressure on wild populations (Heuch et al., ; Krkosek, Lewis, & Volpe, ; McVicar, ); however, few studies assess host–parasite interactions with direct comparisons between farm and wild salmon. Infestation status, and its impact on host fitness, is particularly contentious with the severe impact of parasites on aquaculture management and sustainability (Blaylock & Bullard, ; Lafferty et al., ; Meyer, ; Olesen, Myhr, & Rosendal, ). Here, we are interested in whether the genetic background of Atlantic salmon influences their susceptibility and tolerance to infestation.…”

Ocular anomaly in Atlantic midshipman Porichthys plectrodon (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) from the Mississippi Canyon, north‐central Gulf of Mexico

“…Ocular anomalies in wild‐caught fishes seldom are reported (McElwain et al , ), perhaps because the affected fish is theoretically more prone to wasting and predation such that its capture in the vast ocean comprises luck (Hargis, ; Blaylock & Bullard, ). Documenting putative anomalies among Gulf of Mexico fish populations using detailed gross and microscopic observations is important because of claims that fishes there exhibited so‐called lesions and deformities following the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DHOS).…”