Why are antibiotics used in aquaculture?

Antibiotics are used when animals in culture (e.g., shrimp, prawn, salmon, tilapia) become ill with pathogenic bacteria that can cause death.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

In general, a veterinarian diagnoses the disease and prescribes treatment with a specific type of antibiotic that could be administered either with feed or by injection. However, in some developing countries, antibiotics are provided by hand and informally without a determined dose or prescription.

Stay tuned to learn more about the use of antibiotics in aquaculture.