Ecological Safety and One Health in Aquaculture

Aquaculture stands as one of the most extensive and economically valuable human activities in marine environments, serving as a crucial source of protein in human diets. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aquaculture is predicted to supply the majority of aquatic dietary protein by 2050. However, aquaculture is not an isolated system; the hydrosphere, being the most significant ecological domain in nature, serves as a conduit for the global exchange of pathogens, antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and other harmful factors through food chains, water cycles, and cold chain logistics, thereby influencing the health of wild fish populations and humans worldwide. Conversely, anthropogenic activities such as global warming, marine pollution, biological invasions, and ocean acidification impact the well-being of aquatic animals. Thus, exploring the relationships between aquatic animal health, human health, and environmental health through the lens of "One Health" is imperative not only for the green and sustainable development of the aquaculture industry, but also for safeguarding human and environmental health.

The research topic of Ecological Safety and One Health in Aquaculture aims to address the intricate interplay between aquatic animal health, human health, and environmental health. With the rapid advancement of high-throughput sequencing and other detection technologies, substantial data has been accumulated on the transmission processes and pathogenesis of pollutants, pathogens, antibiotics, microplastics, and other harmful factors among aquatic animals, the environment, and humans. This wealth of information presents an opportunity to construct big data models from a "One Health" perspective. These models can elucidate the relationships between aquatic animal health, human health, and environmental health, enabling comprehensive risk assessments of aquatic animal health and aquaculture ecosystems. Ultimately, such efforts will contribute to safeguarding the biological health and welfare of aquatic animals, as well as human health.

Recent advances in biotechnology and environmental science have provided new tools and insights into these complex interactions. For instance, metagenomic sequencing allows for the identification of microbial communities in aquaculture environments, revealing potential pathogens and their transmission pathways. Additionally, the development of environmental sensors and remote sensing technologies enables real-time monitoring of water quality and ecosystem health, facilitating early warning systems for potential health risks.

The scope of this research topic encompasses the exploration of the impacts of aquaculture production processes, disease, feeds, and other factors on aquatic animal health, and their relevant effects on the food security and marine ecosystem. Topics include, but are not limited to the following subtopics:

1. Environmental Risks and Aquatic Animal Health Assessments of Aquaculture Inputs: This includes evaluating the environmental risks and health impacts of feed additives, probiotics, antibiotics, hormones, vaccines, and other aquaculture inputs on aquatic animals.

2. Transmission Processes and Pathogenesis of Harmful Factors: Studies on the transmission pathways and pathogenesis of pollutants, pathogens, antibiotics, microplastics, and other harmful factors among aquatic animals, the environment, and humans. This includes investigating the mechanisms by which these factors enter the food chain, accumulate in aquatic organisms, and ultimately affect human health.

3. Impact of Environmental Stressors on Aquatic Animal Health: This includes the effects of environmental stressors (including, but not limited to, abiotic stressors such as ammonia nitrogen, pH, temperature, salinity, and organic pollutants, as well as biotic stressors such as pathogenic microorganism infections and high stocking densities) on the physiological functions, immune responses, growth performance, and reproductive capacity of aquatic animals.

4. Methodological Innovation in "One Health" Perspective of Aquaculture: This includes the methodology of big data analysis models, databases, and other framework of metrics for "One Health" to assess the impact of aquaculture on marine ecological environment, aquatic animal health and the risks of food safety.