Bacterial pathogens associated with aquaculture products

Abstract

According to FAO statistics, aquaculture is contributing to nearly half of the global food fish production. Fish contributes to both nutritional and food security in many developing economies. Fish is also one of the most extensively traded food commodities; most of global aquaculture production takes place in developing countries and the major markets are in the developed world. European Union, Japan and United States together account for about 70 % of global fish imports. Generally, fish and fishery products have a very good safety record. But there are some bacterial hazards associated with aquaculture products. The chapter discusses the bacterial pathogens that may be associated with products of aquaculture, pathways of contamination and risk management measures reported for these bacterial hazards. In terms of antibiotic usage, there is limited data from developing countries, and a number of studies have looked at antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens associated with fish and fishery products. Aspects related to antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture products are also presented in this chapter.