Addressing Infectious and non Infectious Diseases in Aquaculture: Enhancing Understanding and Strategies for Sustainable Growth

With the global population steadily increasing, reaching approximately 7.9 billion by 2021 and projected to hit 8.5 billion by 2030, the demand for food, especially seafood protein, is surging. Aquaculture—responsible for producing nearly half of all seafood consumed worldwide—must significantly upscale its production to meet this growing demand, especially as wild fish stocks are dwindling and catch volumes remain flat. This necessity is amplified by the critical role of seafood in global nutrition and food security.

However, the expansion of aquaculture is continually threatened by the prevalence and impact of infectious diseases. These diseases not only limit production efficiency but also adversely affect animal welfare and the broader sustainability of aquaculture practices. Understanding and managing diseases is, therefore, paramount for the future of this industry.



This research topic aims to explore comprehensive aspects of infectious diseases in aquaculture, spanning various species including fish, mollusks, shrimp, and prawns. It covers:

Etiology: Investigating the causes and origins of diseases.

Epidemiology: Examining the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions.

Pathology: Understanding the biological and physical manifestations of diseases.

Diagnostics: Developing and improving methods for early and accurate disease detection.

Prevention and Control: Creating and implementing strategies to mitigate the spread and impact of diseases.

Moreover, this scope considers the context of global environmental changes, such as climate change, which influence the interactions between pathogens, hosts, and environmental conditions, leading to the emergence of new diseases.



The main objective of this research topic is to advance scientific knowledge and innovative practices in managing and preventing infectious diseases in aquaculture. By disseminating high-quality research, clinical case reports, short communications, and review articles, the aim is to:

Enhance understanding of disease dynamics in aquaculture environments.

Foster the development of more effective diagnostic tools and treatment methods.

Promote sustainable aquaculture practices that ensure animal health and welfare.

Support global food security by stabilizing and increasing aquaculture production.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Aquaculture, Infectious Diseases, Fish Pathology, Disease Epidemiology, Disease Etiology, Aquatic Animal Health, Diagnostic Techniques, Disease Prevention, Sustainable Aquaculture, Climate Change Impacts, Seafood Production, Food Security

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.