To date, the use of antibiotics remains the primary choice for disease control, not only in humans but also in the aquaculture sector.
However, according to Prof Sri Nuryati, a professor at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at IPB University, this approach is no longer considered effective in the long term, primarily due to the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance and the potential for residues in fishery products.
“The use of antibiotics is an outdated paradigm. It must be reduced or even abandoned, as its long-term impacts are detrimental,” she stated during her Inaugural Lecture as a Full Professor at IPB University’s Dramaga Campus (4/25).
Prof Sri emphasized that the future of aquaculture must be oriented toward safer and more sustainable systems. “Moving forward, aquaculture must ensure food safety and the health of organisms. The paradigm is no longer about treating diseases, but preventing them from the start,” she emphasized.
Alternative prevention based approaches include the use of immunostimulants, probiotics, and vaccination. Countries like Norway have proven successful in reducing reliance on antibiotics through the implementation of vaccines.
“In Norway, nearly 99 percent of aquaculture operations no longer use antibiotics. They’ve switched to vaccination, and it has proven effective in improving fish survival rates,” she explained.
Vaccines work by training the immune system of farmed organisms to be better prepared to face pathogens. “The principle is the same as with vaccines for humans. The organisms are trained in advance, so that when a pathogen arrives, the response is faster and stronger,” she added.
Vaccines for Shrimp
Interestingly, vaccine development is now also beginning to focus on shrimp, which were previously considered unvaccinable because they possess only innate immunity. However, recent research indicates the presence of a trained immunity mechanism that allows shrimp to mount a protective response against repeated infections.
“It was indeed once thought impossible, because shrimp lack memory cells. But now we know their immunity can be trained. This opens up significant opportunities for the development of shrimp vaccines,” she explained.
Amid climate uncertainty and rising disease risks, the transition toward a prevention based aquaculture system is deemed increasingly urgent. The integration of technological innovations, good aquaculture practices, and the readiness of industry stakeholders is key to ensuring the sustainability of this sector.
“Moving forward, the main key is prevention. Prevention is better than cure. That must be the direction of our aquaculture development,” she concluded. (AS) (IAAS/KQA)
