WP4 - Health: recurrent and emerging diseases (AQUAHEALTH)

WP4 (AQUAHEALTH) is focused on aquaculture health addressing both recurrent and emerging diseases. WP4 aims to understand the pathogens and associated pathologies that affect the sector, as well as to detect and control the main diseases. It is articulated around 7 objectives: 1) Identify and characterize emerging pathologies, and develop and improve diagnostic and detection methods; 2) Study life cycles, vectors and the impact of climate change on etiological agents and their interaction with their hosts; 3) Design new vaccines against the most relevant pathogens and study routes of administration; 4) Develop new alternative, eco-sustainable methods of treatment and control, both therapeutic and prophylactic; 5) To create a Mediterranean Research Network on Aquaculture Health (REMEDISA) that integrates the knowledge, experiences and capacities of the R&D&I groups of the Valencian Community; 6) To disseminate the project, transfer the scientific-technical tools generated to the sector and raise society’s awareness on sustainable development; 7) To train competent personnel in animal health and welfare; 8) To develop new technologies for the control of the most relevant pathogens in the aquaculture sector.

Objectives

Objective 4.1

Identify and characterise new emerging pathologies, and develop and improve methods for diagnosis and detection of pathogens in aquaculture.

  • Action 2.2: Studies on physiology, pathology and reproduction of farmed fish to improve knowledge on processes affecting development, growth, quality of clutches and progeny, and animal health and welfare, as well as on the rhythmic control of physiological processes and their modulation by environmental factors in model and aquaculture species.
  • Action 2.9: Improvement of fish farming systems through i) development of more efficient and sustainable feeds especially during larval stage and juvenile production, ii) optimisation of environmental factors and chronobiological control, iii) optimisation of production (Machine Learning) through genetic improvement, animal welfare and prevention and control of pathologies with diagnostic tools, treatments and novel technologies.
  • Action 2.6: Encourage the development of non-conventional culture systems for aquatic organismsIncentivise research and development of non-conventional culture systems for fish, molluscs and other taxonomic groups: IMTA (offshore and onshore), recirculation systems (RAS) and aquaponics-BIOFLOC.
  • Task 4.1.5: Alternative detection of pathogens

Objective 4.2

To study the life cycles of fish pathogens, their vectors and the impact of climate change on the aetiological agents and their interaction with their hosts.

  • Action 2.2: Studies on physiology, pathology and reproduction of farmed fish to improve knowledge on processes affecting development, growth, quality of clutches and progeny, and animal health and welfare, as well as on the rhythmic control of physiological processes and their modulation by environmental factors in model and aquaculture species.
  • Action 2.11: Improving knowledge on the welfare of cultured fish and developing systems to continuously and reliably monitor (i) new welfare indicators under normal culture conditions and during the slaughter process (where appropriate) and (ii) developing strategies to improve feed intake and utilisation, growth, reproduction and health status (susceptibility to disease) of cultured fish.

Objective 4.3

Design new vaccines against the most relevant pathogens and study the best routes of administration

  • Action 2.15: Establishment of biosanitary measures and design of protocols and other specific control measures (vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics, alternative treatments, etc.) to mitigate the effects of climate change and intensification of fish farming on epizootics due to recurrent and emerging pathogens.
  • Task 4.3.1: Development of a DNA vaccine against Enteromyxum leei.
  • Task 4.3.2: Vaccine design for zoonotic vibrios
    • In charge: UV1

Objective 4.4

Develop new alternative, eco-sustainable methods for pathogen treatment and control in aquaculture, both therapeutic and prophylactic

  • Action 2.15: Establishment of biosanitary measures and design of protocols and other specific control measures (vaccines, prebiotics, probiotics, alternative treatments, etc.) to mitigate the effects of climate change and intensification of fish farming on epizootics due to recurrent and emerging pathogens.
  • Task 4.4.3: Evaluation of the microbicidal potential of electrolyzed water

Objective 4.5

To create a Mediterranean Aquaculture Health Research Network (REMEDISA) that integrates the knowledge of large groups of infectious agents (viruses, bacteria and parasites) and the diversity of experiences and capacities of R&D&I groups in the Valencian Community.

  • Action 2.2: Studies on physiology, pathology and reproduction of farmed fish to improve knowledge on processes affecting development, growth, quality of clutches and progeny, and animal health and welfare, as well as on the rhythmic control of physiological processes and their modulation by environmental factors in model and aquaculture species.
  • Action 2.20: Improving the perception and social acceptance of aquacultureImproving the environmental culture, transparency and perception of aquaculture by all levels of society to facilitate the introduction and consolidation in the market of safe and quality aquaculture with a high technological component based on principles of sustainability.

Objective 4.6

To disseminate the results of the project, transfer the scientific and technical tools generated to the sector and raise public awareness of the sustainable development of Mediterranean aquaculture.

  • Action 3.12: Dissemination of knowledge and education about the marine environment to society in general (children, consumers, professionals from different fields, etc.) in order to improve the perception of blue economy activities (small-scale fishing, aquaculture, etc.).
  • Task 4.6.1: Dissemination and transfer of scientific and technical knowledge and tools

Objective 4.7

To train competent personnel in aquaculture animal health and welfare.

  • Action 3.12: Dissemination of knowledge and education about the marine environment to society in general (children, consumers, professionals from different fields, etc.) in order to improve the perception of blue economy activities (small-scale fishing, aquaculture, etc.).
  • Task 4.7.1: Training of future aquaculture health professionals through conferences, workshops, specialisation/master courses in companies, universities and research centres.
  • Task 4.7.2: Encouraging the sharing of research resources and infrastructures

In charge WP

Ariadna Sitjà Bobadilla

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Juan Antonio Raga Esteve

UV3

Universitat de València

Participants WP

Angel Maquieria Catalá

Universitat Politècnica de València

Carmen Amaro González

UV1

Universitat de València

Jose Vicente Ros Lis

UV2

Universitat de València

Maria del Mar Ortega Villalzan Romo

Universidad Miguel Hernández