Redouble efforts to address the challenges in freshwater in the face of the rise in the Antibiotic Use Index

After years of decline, antibiotic consumption shows an upward trend in 2024.

The Pincoy Initiative, a collaboration body dedicated to sustainability in aquaculture continues its in-depth data analysis with renewed emphasis on understanding freshwater systems and their impact on the entire production cycle. While after several years of low consumption, the period 2024 showed an increase in antibiotic consumption among the partners of the Pincoy Initiative compared to 2023, this scenario drives us to strengthen our commitment to the pursuit of proactive, efficient and evidence-based solutions. 

This increase in the use of treatments, a trend that is expected to remain in 2025, is explained by a series of more complex health challenges. Among them, the increase in Caligus parasitic load stands out, which has led to a greater need for anti-parasitic baths. In addition, longer cultivation periods and new freshwater production schemes are presenting greater health challenges. The Initiative Pincoy is actively collecting data on these issues to develop analyses and models that allow adjusting aquaculture practices and designing mitigation strategies against these new realities.

One of the major strengths of the Pincoy Initiative is its multidisciplinary approach, which allows us to address the complexity of these challenges, says Rolando Ibarra, executive director of the initiative, "This implies addressing the issue not only from the productive environment, but also considering management practices, genetics, feeding, vaccinations and treatments. This integrated approach enables us to have a broad understanding of the factors influencing the occurrence of the Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS) and the use of antibiotics. Additionally, it provides the necessary flexibility to design studies specifics that adapt to the technological and productive changes of such a dynamic industry, always seeking animal welfare and long-term sustainability."

The new analyses, which will focus on a deep understanding of freshwater data, will be available in the second half of this year. The Pincoy Initiative reaffirms its commitment to finding innovative and sustainable solutions for the aquaculture industry, seeking to mitigate the impact of antibiotic use and promote fish health at all stages of their life cycle. We firmly believe that, through collaboration and rigorous analysis, we can transform these challenges into opportunities for more resilient and efficient aquaculture.