Biosecurity Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Cage Aquaculture: A Study of Fish Health and Disease Risk Management on Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia
Keywords:
Biosecurity, Aquaculture, Tilapia, Zambia
Abstract
Cage aquaculture in Lake Kariba, Zambia, is critical to the region’s fish production but faces significant challenges in disease outbreaks. This study assessed the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of aquaculture producers in Siavonga concerning fish health and disease risk management. Data were collected through structured interviews with 14 producers, representing small, medium, and large-scale farms. The study aimed to identify gaps in biosecurity awareness and practices, particularly in relation to disease prevention and control. The results showed that knowledge of biosecurity and disease risks was predominantly low across all farm scales. Specifically, 90% of small-scale producers and 100% of medium-scale producers exhibited low knowledge, while 50% of large-scale producers showed low knowledge. Attitudes toward biosecurity were generally negative, with 90% of small-scale producers holding negative attitudes, compared to 50% of large-scale producers who demonstrated positive attitudes. The implementation of disease management practices was more consistent in medium- and large-scale operations, with 100% of large-scale farms following moderate to good practices, compared to 100% poor practices in small-scale farms. Significant gaps in adherence to best biosecurity practices were observed, particularly in small-scale farms. For instance, 60% of small-scale farms did not follow quarantine procedures, and only 20% assessed disease risks pre-movement. In contrast, 100% of large-scale farms implemented quarantine measures and assessed disease risks before moving fish. This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve biosecurity knowledge and practices, especially among small-scale producers, who constitute 71.4% of the respondents. Training, resource allocation, and policy enforcement are crucial to addressing these gaps and mitigating the risk of disease outbreaks that threaten the aquaculture sector’s sustainability in Lake Kariba.References
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Aly, S.M. and Fathi, M., 2024. Advancing aquaculture biosecurity: a scientometric analysis and future outlook for disease prevention and environmental sustainability. Aquaculture International, 32(7), pp.8763-8789. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-024-01589-y.
Assefa, A. and Abunna, F., 2018. Maintenance of fish health in aquaculture: review of epidemiological approaches for prevention and control of infectious disease of fish. Veterinary medicine international, 2018(1), p.5432497. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5432497.
Bera, K.K., Karmakar, S., Jana, P., Das, S., Purkait, S., Pal, S. and Haque, R., 2018. Biosecurity in aquaculture: an overview. Aqua International, 18(12), pp.42-46.
Boyd, C.E., D'Abramo, L.R., Glencross, B.D., Huyben, D.C., Juarez, L.M., Lockwood, G.S., McNevin, A.A., Tacon, A.G., Teletchea, F., Tomasso Jr, J.R. and Tucker, C.S., 2020. Achieving sustainable aquaculture: Historical and current perspectives and future needs and challenges. Journal of the world aquaculture society, 51(3), pp.578-633. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12714.
Bwalya, P., Simukoko, C., Hang'ombe, B.M., Støre, S.C., Støre, P., Gamil, A.A., Evensen, Ø. and Mutoloki, S., 2020. Characterization of streptococcus-like bacteria from diseased Oreochromis niloticus farmed on Lake Kariba in Zambia. Aquaculture, 523, p.735185. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735185.
Cascarano, M.C., Stavrakidis-Zachou, O., Mladineo, I., Thompson, K.D., Papandroulakis, N. and Katharios, P., 2021. Mediterranean aquaculture in a changing climate: temperature effects on pathogens and diseases of three farmed fish species. Pathogens, 10(9), p.1205. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091205
Dong, H.T., Nguyen, V.V., Le, H.D., Sangsuriya, P., Jitrakorn, S., Saksmerprome, V., Senapin, S. and Rodkhum, C., 2015. Naturally concurrent infections of bacterial and viral pathogens in disease outbreaks in cultured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farms. Aquaculture, 448, pp.427-435. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.06.027
Dong, H.T., Techatanakitarnan, C., Jindakittikul, P., Thaiprayoon, A., Taengphu, S., Charoensapsri, W., Khunrae, P., Rattanarojpong, T. and Senapin, S., 2017. Aeromonas jandaei and Aeromonas veronii caused disease and mortality in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Journal of Fish Diseases, 40(10), pp.1395-1403. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12617.
Ferreira, J.G., Taylor, N.G., Cubillo, A., Lencart-Silva, J., Pastres, R., Bergh, Ø. and Guilder, J., 2021. An integrated model for aquaculture production, pathogen interaction, and environmental effects. Aquaculture, 536, p.736438. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736438
Garza, M., Mohan, C.V., Rahman, M., Wieland, B. and Häsler, B., 2019. The role of infectious disease impact in informing decision-making for animal health management in aquaculture systems in Bangladesh. Preventive veterinary medicine, 167, pp.202-213. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.03.004
Hasimuna, O.J., Maulu, S. and Mphande, J. (2020) ‘Aquaculture Health Management Practices in Zambia: Status, Challenges and Proposed Biosecurity Measures’, 11(584), p. 7. Available at: doi: 10.35248/2155-9546.19.10.584
Jansen, M.D., Dong, H.T. and Mohan, C.V. (2019) Tilapia Lake virus: a threat to the global tilapia industry? Reviews in Aquaculture. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12254.
Little, D.C., Young, J.A., Zhang, W., Newton, R.W., Al Mamun, A. and Murray, F.J., 2018. Sustainable intensification of aquaculture value chains between Asia and Europe: a framework for understanding impacts and challenges. Aquaculture, 493, pp.338-354. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.12.033.
López-Carresi, A., Fordham, M., Wisner, B., Kelman, I. and Gaillard, J.C., 2014. Disaster management. International Lessons in Risk Reduction, Response and Recovery. London: Earthscan.Available at: https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/books/mono/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9780203082539&type=googlepdf (Accessed: 9 December 2024).
Ndashe, K., Hang’ombe, B.M., Changula, K., Yabe, J., Samutela, M.T., Songe, M.M., Kefi, A.S., Njobvu Chilufya, L. and Sukkel, M., 2023. An Assessment of the risk factors associated with disease outbreaks across tilapia farms in Central and Southern Zambia. Fishes, 8(1), p.49. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8010049.
Perera RP, Jones BR, Beers PE, Kleeman S, McGladdery S. Maintaining biosecurity in aquaculture systems: a constraint or a challenge. In 6th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture 2005. Available at: https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/Maintaining-biosecurity-in-aquaculture-systems-A/991005540356307891 (Accessed: 9 December 2024).
Quiñones, R.A., Fuentes, M., Montes, R.M., Soto, D. and León‐Muñoz, J., 2019. Environmental issues in Chilean salmon farming: a review. Reviews in aquaculture, 11(2), pp.375-402. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12337.
Ramírez‐Paredes, J.G., Paley, R.K., Hunt, W., Feist, S.W., Stone, D.M., Field, T.R., Haydon, D.J., Ziddah, P.A., Nkansa, M., Guilder, J. and Gray, J., 2021. First detection of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) associated with massive mortalities in farmed tilapia in Africa. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 68(3), pp.1550-1563. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13825.
Siamujompa, M., Ndashe, K., Zulu, F.C., Chitala, C., Songe, M.M., Changula, K., Moonga, L., Kabwali, E.S., Reichley, S. and Hang’ombe, B.M., 2023. An investigation of bacterial pathogens associated with diseased Nile tilapia in small-scale cage culture farms on Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia. Fishes, 8(9), p.452. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8090452
Ssekyanzi, A., Nevejan, N., Kabbiri, R., Wesana, J. and Stappen, G.V., 2022. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of fish farmers regarding water quality and its management in the rwenzori region of Uganda. Water, 15(1), p.42. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010042
Subasinghe, R., Alday‐Sanz, V., Bondad‐Reantaso, M.G., Jie, H., Shinn, A.P. and Sorgeloos, P., 2023. Biosecurity: Reducing the burden of disease. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 54(2), pp.397-426. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12966.
Valenti, W.C., Barros, H.P., Moraes-Valenti, P., Bueno, G.W. and Cavalli, R.O., 2021. Aquaculture in Brazil: past, present and future. Aquaculture Reports, 19, p.100611. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2021.100611
Wright, A., Li, X., Yang, X., Soto, E. and Gross, J., 2023. Disease prevention and mitigation in US finfish aquaculture: A review of current approaches and new strategies. Reviews in Aquaculture, 15(4), pp.1638-1653. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12807.
Zhang, L., Maulu, S., Hua, F., Chama, M.K. and Xu, P., 2023. Aquaculture in Zambia: the current status, challenges, opportunities and adaptable lessons learnt from China. Fishes, 9(1), p.14. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9010014
Published
2025-05-25
How to Cite
1.
Ndashe K, Changula K, Walubita N, Miyanda M, Mutanuka E, Songe M, Banda H, Hang’ombe B. Biosecurity Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Cage Aquaculture: A Study of Fish Health and Disease Risk Management on Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 25May2025 [cited 22Jun.2025];8(4). Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1412
Section
Veterinary Medicine
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