Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

SEA FOOD BACTERIAL PATHOGENS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AQUACULTURE

OLUMIDE ADEDOKUN ODEYEMI

Abstract

Currently, aquaculture is the world fastest growing food economy with yearly increase of 10 % and thereby contributing over 29 % of total fish consumed in the world. It is mostly practised in Southeast Asia with China taking the lead. Countries from Africa, South America and Asia Pacific are also engaging in aquaculture farming. Fishing constitutes the major source of generating income for over 35 % of the world inhabitants living along the coastline of the oceans hence, only a fraction of farmers from developing countries engage in small scale fisheries out of over 40 million people globally earning income from aquaculture The global growth of aquaculture has been affected by various microbial diseases mostly from bacteria. These pathogenic bacteria are found in the culture water, sediment and sea foods. This paper therefore highlights some of the most common pathogenic bacteria affecting the sustainability of aquaculture in developing countries.