What are individuals saying? Given the value of individual opinions, a participant consultation (n = 80) was conducted during the first "Sustainable Management of Aquaculture Bacterial Diseases: An Interdisciplinary Approach" Congress, held in November 2024. The Chilean salmon industry faces numerous challenges in reducing Antimicrobial Use (AMU) to advancing toward a more sustainable aquaculture sector. To address this pressing issue, the consultation aimed to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the industry and to gather valuable insights from congress attendees.
The interactive session included six brainstorming groups composed of participants from diverse backgrounds, including members of civil society, animal health experts, representatives from the salmon industry, production and pharmaceutical sectors, academic researchers, students, and members of governmental and non-governmental institutions. Each group (n = 13-15 members) discussed four main topics: a) the effect of antimicrobials (AMs) on aquatic environments, b) alternatives treatments and their efficacy, c) antimicrobial resistance, and d) communication strategies. The two-hour session allocated 3 to 4 guiding questions for discussion under each topic.
The discussions led by participants identified a range of gaps, challenges, and opportunities related to the sustainable AMU in the aquaculture industry. 1) Gaps: Impacts on the marine seafloor and non-target organisms, effects on biodiversity, limited capacity building in animal health education, and lack of long-term studies to better understand environmental impacts.
2) Challenges: Strengthening the regulatory framework, public and private programs aimed at reducing AMU, standardizing laboratory diagnostic procedures, and improving communication on AMU, targeting the general public, civil society, researchers, and relevant institutions. 3) Opportunities: Broad willingness among aquaculture stakeholders to collaborate and improve current management practices to reduce AMU and promote sustainable aquaculture.
This collaborative initiative offers valuable insights for advancing sustainable AMU practices within the Chilean salmon industry. The discussions provided a vital platform for identifying key challenges and knowledge gaps, while fostering dialogue on disease management strategies and AMU reduction as pathways to sustainability.