Project R-12950

Integrating fish parasite monitoring with stakeholder needs: towards a renewed health information system for sustainable aquaculture development in Africa (Research)

Aquaculture emerges worldwide as major source of protein. Its rapid growth results in fish disease outbreaks and environmental degradation. To optimize production and increase resilience, aquaculture stakeholders hence need sound animal health surveillance. We focus on the monitoring of parasites in Nile tilapia production in Zimbabwe, proposing an innovative appraisal method for monitoring systems, taking into account the value of the information for stakeholders. First, we will provide an overview of the relevant parasites and their role in aquaculture productivity and ecosystem health. Second, we will characterize host-parasite-ecosystem interactions in the study region, comparing large- and small-scale aquaculture farms. Third, a sociological enquiry will analyze the diversity of human interactions with fish production systems, and the stakeholders' knowledge, expectations and criteria of judgments regarding information on fish parasites. Fourth, the value of this information will be quantified to understand stakeholders' preferences in their role of information users and providers. Taken together, these results will help in the setting up of monitoring systems that integrate parasitological information into sustainable aquaculture.

01 October 2022 - 30 September 2026