Fish Farmers' Perspectives and Practices in Aquaculture Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Background: The increased use of antibiotics in aquaculture for disease management has raised concerns around antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which might threaten the industry's viability. Understanding fish farmers' viewpoints, and the critical player in aquaculture is crucial to addressing global seafood demands. This comprehensive literature review examines and explores the fish farmers' perceptions and responses to AMR. Important topics including antibiotic use, farmers' AMR knowledge, and disease control efficacy will be reviewed. The review illuminates various viewpoints to aid sustainable and responsible aquaculture decision-making.

Methods: The systematic literature review summarized the key findings and their implications for understanding fish farmers' perspectives on antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture. The research question is clearly defined, thus guiding the literature review before developing a straightforward search strategy to identify relevant literature. Key databases such as BMI, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were utilised, employing specific keywords like "fish farmers," "aquaculture," and "antimicrobial resistance." Titles and abstracts were screened to identify potentially relevant articles. After assessing the full articles against the inclusion criteria for final selection, a simple data extraction form was developed to gather relevant information from selected studies by extracting data on key variables such as antibiotic usage patterns, farmers' awareness of antibiotic resistance and the effectiveness of disease management strategies. Next, a basic quality assessment of the selected studies was conducted while considering factors like study design, sample size, and the clarity of findings. Finally, common themes and patterns related to fish farmers and the aquaculture industry's perspectives on antibiotic resistance were identified.

Practical implications: The presence of significant gaps in the literature suggests that this topic is relatively new and unexplored. Therefore, conducting a thorough study on the issue is essential to cultivate a comprehensive comprehension of the subject area.

Results: The literature search found 296 potentially relevant publications, but only 30 met the inclusion criteria. These publications demonstrate the intricate links between aquaculture, antibiotic use, and resistance. The findings help understand aquaculture AMR challenges and opportunities. This information serves as a foundation for future research, policy formulation, and the implementation of sustainable practices in the industry.