Title : Sustainable aquaculture: Strategies for comprehensive improvement
Abstract:
Aquaculture supplies more than half of food production in the fishing sector, which is why it has become one of the most important practices for the food industry worldwide. The need to produce food under strict quality standards and reduce the impact on the environment, leads to development of food industry, particularly aquaculture practices. Minimizing the impact of this industry implies the use of non-chemical antimicrobials and better practices for a sustainable management. Aquaculture biotechnology provides tools and processes that allow the development of pathogen detection and control strategies, improvement of genetic lines, improved performance (lower mortality and greater growth), and less impact on the environment. Search for alternatives for crop improvement and protection against pathogens is of utmost importance to avoid production losses and dispense with the use of antibiotics. In traditional medicine, plants have been used ancestrally for therapeutic purposes, which is why their antimicrobial potential is well recognized. Medicinal plants offer a natural and sustainable alternative with high antimicrobial capacities, particularly if native species are used. Antimicrobial potential, in addition to antioxidant, which medicinal plants can contribute to aquaculture practice, implies the elimination of harmful antibiotics from the environment and contributes to the improvement of aquaculture practice and the reduction of its impact. The use of medicinal plants as antimicrobials in aquaculture systems requires the evaluation of the dose and method of application, since direct application can result in a certain degree of toxicity to organisms. The use of yeasts and bacteria as probiotics has represented a highly effective strategy in: reducing pathogens by competition or by the production of metabolites such as bacteriocins, increasing feed digestibility by the production of digestive enzymes, increasing immune response, greater growth and lower mortality. Plant extracts, together with microorganisms, can help minimize pathogens in the culture water, as well as reduce or eliminate contaminating compounds such as heavy metals, among others, facilitating the bioremediation of water and reducing the impact on the environment by eliminating the use of antibiotics and generating cleaner water that can be used in another system, integrating a multi-culture. These and other strategies have been evaluated with different species of interest to aquaculture, particularly with white shrimp. The integration of these strategies can increase the productive performance of aquaculture systems and reduce the impact of the industry on the environment. A comprehensive system with best practices and innovative scientific and technological tools can boost the aquaculture industry and contribute to food sovereignty.
