The Aquatic Vet Advantage: Your farm’s hidden asset

Have you ever lost fish overnight and not known why?  Are your fish eating less, growing slower, or showing strange behaviours— and you are left guessing?  Do you want to get certified or sell to larger markets but do not know where to start with aquatic animal health and welfare? Perhaps you are treating symptoms, and not solving the real problem? 

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to bring an aquatic vet onto your team — not just in emergencies, but to protect your farm all year round.

What does an aquatic vet actually do?

Aquatic vets are trained professionals who may support aquaculture farmers with aquatic animal health examinations, feeding advice, disease diagnosis and treatment, disease prevention and control, staff training, and more.

We help farmers raise healthy aquatic animals in a way that protects the environment and nearby wild species. We also guide the safe use of treatments like antibiotics, and guide you on waste management and disease risks. Our support ensures your fish are safe to eat and meet market and certification standards — protecting both your business and public health.

Just like vets who work with cows, sheep, or chickens, aquatic vets don’t just treat sick animals — we help prevent problems before they start. Good aquatic animal health and welfare are foundational to imporved animal performance and fewer losses. These may be animal, financial, reputational, business, and or environmental losses. That’s why having an aquatic vet on your team boosts productivity, protects your stock, and protects the long-term success of your business.

Why aquatic vets matter now more than ever?

The need for aquatic veterinarians is more critical today than ever before. As aquaculture intensifies to meet the growing global demand for aquatic foods, the industry faces mounting risks related to disease outbreaks and animal welfare.

According to the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 (FAO), while capture fisheries production has remained relatively stable for decades, aquaculture has continued its rapid growth—expanding by 6.6% since 2020—and now accounts for over 57% of aquatic animal products consumed directly by humans, and 51% of total aquatic animal production worldwide. In a historic shift, aquaculture has surpassed capture fisheries for the first time in 2022. 

Global demand is expected to rise even further with projected growth of 10% by 2032. With 89% of total aquatic food production destined for direct human consumption, ensuring the health, welfare, and sustainability of aquaculture systems is paramount. 

The integration of technology in veterinary services is transforming aquaculture and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of aquatic animal health management. These may include and are not limited to precision feeding technology, AI lead disease detection, remote health monitoring systems.

Here is how we can support your farm:

Stop fish losses before they happen

Many farmers only call for help after fish have already died, and very often by then, it is often too late. An aquatic vet helps you spot early warning signs — which may involve abnormal movement of animals, appetite changes, changes in body appearance, amongst other symptoms - and implement early interventions.

Assess water quality and farm conditions

Every aquaculture farmer knows that water quality is a critical factor in farming aquatic animals.  We help you test your water, interpret the results in context, and assess your farm conditions holistically to recommend the right actions. 

Create a health and biosecurity plan 

We build a custom health plan for your farm: which may include feeding advice, vaccination or treatment schedules, biosecurity protocols, record-keeping strategies to monitor growth, survival, mortalities, amongst other important metrics to ensure good health and welfare.

Help with certification audits

Many buyers and certification schemes require evidence that fish are raised ethically, safely, and sustainably. We help farms prepare for health audits by conducting health checks, disease sampling, and biosecurity assessments, along with detailed reporting and strategies to improve aquatic animal welfare and compliance.

Train your team 

From quick WhatsApp questions to full farm visits, we are here when you need us. We also train your staff to identify early signs of disease, handle fish correctly, and implement daily best practices.

Develop farm-based research solutions

We work with farmers to test new solutions, investigate disease patterns, and apply science that leads to healthier fish and better farm outcomes, in collaboration with other partners.

Aquatic animal losses cost more than prevention- a disease outbreak may wipe out weeks or months of hard work with losses in stock, feed, time and money. In comparison early veterinary intervention costs a fraction compared to the cost of recovery from preventable losses.

Some say hiring a vet is too expensive. However the truth is, not having one could cost you much more in stock losses, failed audits, and lost time. Some may say that they have been doing this for years without a vet, however the world of aquaculture is changing fast -what worked 10 years ago might not work tomorrow. Working with an aquatic vet is not a luxury — it’s an investment in your farm’s success. Your aquatic vet is similar to a bodyguard for your investment, an insurance for your animals, and a growth partner for your farm.

Don’t wait for a crisis. Protect your stock, improve your survival rates, and grow your business.

Contact Aquaglobal Veterinary Consulting to start building a healthier and more profitable farm email on support@aquaglobalvet.com