Economic impacts of aquatic parasites on global finfish production

Abstract

Parasites generate costs for managing infections as well as prophylactic treatment in finfish aquaculture. Based on estimated hatchery losses to parasitism of 20%, the authors estimated annual global loss of juvenile fish to parasites at U.S. $107.31 million to $134.14 million. Assuming parasites are responsible for losses of 1% to 10% of harvest-size fish, the value of these fish was estimated at $945.00 million to $9.45 billion. Combining the hatchery and growout figures, the parasites’ annual cost was tentatively estimated at $1.05 billion to $9.58 billion.