From October 17-19, 2024, ICARS participated in the International Conference on Aquaculture, hosted on Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam. Centered around the theme “A Panoramic View of Innovations,” the conference convened leading scientists from Vietnam and international research communities.
Presentations on Reducing Antimicrobial Use in Aquaculture
Dr. Lua T. Dang, Director General of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 (RIA1), presented the ICARS-supported project to reduce antimicrobial use in tilapia and striped catfish (Pangasius). Researchers from RIA1, RIA2, and Can Tho University (the conference organiser) shared insights from their ongoing ICARS projects, including findings on the types and frequency of antimicrobial use in striped catfish aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.
ICARS Senior Scientific Consultant and University of Copenhagen Professor, Anders Dalsgaard, discussed interventions and strategies to reduce antimicrobial use and address antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture. He also highlighted the role of certification schemes and global trade in promoting responsible practices.
Key Session on Fish Health Management
The “Fish Health Management” session was co-chaired by Anders Dalsgaard from ICARS and Prof. Margaret Crumlish from the University of Stirling, UK. Several presentations emphasised the critical need for innovative solutions to reduce antimicrobial consumption in aquaculture, highlighting both the urgency and importance of sustainable health management practices within the industry.
Strategic Meeting on the Innovet-AMR 2.0 Project
In conjunction with the conference, a meeting was held between ICARS’ Vietnamese partners and research institutions involved in the Innovative Veterinary Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (Innovet-AMR 2.0) project, funded through the second phase of the IDRC-supported programme.
Key partners in Innovet-AMR 2.0, the University of Stirling, and RIA2 are working to advance an immersion vaccine for striped catfish, addressing both efficacy and uptake challenges within the industry in the Mekong Delta. Discussions identified potential areas for collaboration between the two projects, such as joint assessments of vaccine response in striped catfish fingerlings.
