Microbial intervention for better fish health in aquaculture: the Indian scenario

Aquaculture has evolved as the fastest growing food-producing sector and developed as an important component in food security. To keep a sustainable growth pattern, health management strategies must go beyond antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, which create resistant bacteria and immunosuppression in the host. Besides development of drug resistant bacteria and pathogens, the adverse effect of antibiotics is caused by their influence on the aquatic microflora, and the retention of harmful residues in aquatic animals. On the other hand, the microbes with their unique structure and cell wall components can trigger immunity, and thus exposure plays an important role in the evolution. Microbial intervention through an environmentally friendly approach is an alternative method of health management. India is endowed with a bounty of varied climatic conditions, microbial diversity and fish fauna and aquaculture systems offering challenges in biological and environmental pursuits. Producing about 4.4% of world’s fish and ranking third in global fish production, India trades about 2.4% in global fish market with the annual export earning being over $1311 million. Use of microbes for beneficial purposes is increasingly recognized as a valuable input for sustainable and responsible aquaculture. Microbial intervention in aquaculture can be broadly water/environment based through bioaugmentation, biostimulation, biocontrol measures, or (to generate) host response through probiotics, immunostimulants, and vaccines. Also, application of molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic acid techniques are making increasing inroads into aquatic microbiological research in India. This paper elucidates all these aspects of microbial intervention in aquaculture, high-lighting Indian research and accomplishments.