Farm-level biosecurity—current scenarios and future perspectives

Aquaculture biosecurity can enhance various production stages by reducing risk factors for disease transmission. Farm-level biosecurity has been recently practiced by farmers as an effective tool to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to ensure improved health management on the farm. It is a new concept in aquaculture to protect aquatic animals from infectious diseases. Effective biosecurity planning on an aquaculture farm unit has several proven advantages in fish farming, including reduced risk of disease transmission across farms, the prevention of emerging diseases, and lowered economic losses attributed to disease. With that, selecting appropriate management practices and defining barriers can be challenging. The monitoring and management of aquafarm biosecurity has thus become a significant consideration that urges the development of proper biosecurity guidelines with a more targeted approach. The comparative study of biosecurity measures used at the local, national, and/or international levels for a particular aquaculture component can inform producers on how to integrate this guidance effectively and in a timely manner. Addressing the gaps and limitations in the existing farm-level biosecurity is essential to incorporate new elements into the checklist and ensure maximum protection under emerging disease threats. So, there is plenty of room for improving biosecurity in aquaculture and moving toward a sustainable and safe industry in the near future. It is also essential to keep in mind that the new regulatory framework and approaches are useful for a wide range of stakeholders; for example, the cost involved in the process of biosecurity management should be affordable for producers within low- to middle-income countries. So, to ensure that we are preparing to achieve the broader goal of biosecurity globally, focusing on a more integrated approach for the growing aquaculture industry.