Researchers, aquatic veterinarians, fish-health professionals, policymakers, producers and private-sector actors are invited to contribute to a dedicated session on aquatic animal health, welfare and ecosystem health during World Aquaculture 2026 in Tanzania. The session will focus on controlling antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture through practical, science-based and One Health solutions.
Antimicrobials can save fish populations and protect farm productivity when they are correctly prescribed and responsibly used. But when treatment replaces prevention, diagnosis and sound farm management, the same medicines can gradually lose their effectiveness.
This challenge is becoming increasingly important as aquaculture expands across Africa. Farmers need effective tools to control bacterial diseases, yet the inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, leave residues in food, affect aquatic ecosystems and undermine consumer confidence.
Against this background, the Aquatic Animal Health, Welfare and Ecosystem Health Session has issued its first call for abstracts, exhibitors and side events ahead of World Aquaculture 2026 Tanzania.
The session will be organised under the theme:
“Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture – A One Health Imperative.”
World Aquaculture 2026 comes to Tanzania
World Aquaculture 2026 Tanzania will take place from 1 to 4 December 2026 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam.
The international conference will be held around the broader theme “Aquaculture Driving Blue Transformation.” It will bring together researchers, producers, investors, veterinary professionals, policymakers, students and development organisations to discuss the future of aquaculture in Africa and globally.
The programme will include technical sessions, oral and poster presentations, an international trade exhibition, industry forums, student activities, workshops and professional meetings.
Why antimicrobial resistance matters in aquaculture
Antimicrobial resistance does not affect fish health alone. Resistant microorganisms and antimicrobial residues can move through water, sediments, aquatic animals, food chains and surrounding communities.
For fish farmers, resistance can mean that common treatments become less effective, disease outbreaks last longer and production losses increase. For veterinarians and aquatic animal-health professionals, it makes treatment decisions more complex and reinforces the need for laboratory diagnosis and antimicrobial-susceptibility testing.
The problem also has an environmental dimension. Aquaculture facilities are connected to rivers, lakes, coastal areas and groundwater systems. Medicines, resistant bacteria and resistance genes can circulate between farms and natural ecosystems when waste, water quality and treatment practices are poorly managed.
This is why antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture must be addressed through the One Health approach, linking aquatic animal health, human health, food safety and ecosystem protection.
Moving from treatment to prevention
The dedicated session aims to showcase approaches that can help aquaculture systems move from repeated reactive treatment towards prevention, resilience and responsible health management.
Priority solutions may include:
- stronger farm biosecurity;
- early disease detection and reporting;
- improved laboratory diagnosis;
- responsible veterinary prescription;
- vaccination where suitable vaccines are available;
- better water-quality management;
- appropriate stocking densities;
- improved nutrition and feed management;
- surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance;
- alternatives to routine antibiotic use;
- stronger farmer education and extension services.
Aquatic veterinarians have a central role in this transition. Their responsibilities go beyond prescribing medicines. They help identify the cause of disease, assess farm-level risks, recommend preventive measures and ensure that treatments are justified, correctly dosed and properly documented.
Who is invited to contribute?
The call is open to a wide range of stakeholders and practitioners working across aquaculture, veterinary medicine, aquatic ecosystems, public health, research and the blue-food value chain.
Researchers and professionals may submit abstracts for:
- oral presentations;
- poster presentations;
- evidence-based strategies;
- field experiences;
- policy innovations;
- practical solutions for controlling antimicrobial resistance.
The organisers are particularly interested in work that demonstrates how science, policy and real-world experience can strengthen the sustainability of aquaculture.
Exhibitors and sponsors are also invited to present technologies, products and One Health solutions relevant to aquatic animal health and the wider aquaculture value chain.
Institutions may additionally express interest in organising:
- side events;
- technical workshops;
- round-table discussions;
- professional or policy dialogues.
Guidance for abstract submissions
The official World Aquaculture Society submission portal is currently accepting abstracts for World Aquaculture 2026 Tanzania.
Abstracts may be submitted for oral or poster presentation. English is strongly encouraged, while French, Portuguese and Arabic are also accepted for conference presentations.
The expanded abstract must be limited to one A4 page, use 12-point font and include the title, authors, institutional affiliation and contact details of the presenting author. Tables and figures may be included if they remain clear and readable.
Oral presenters will generally receive 15 minutes for the presentation and five minutes for questions. All presenters are responsible for their registration, travel and accommodation expenses.
The first-call flyer does not specify a dedicated closing date for this session. Interested contributors should therefore consult the official submission portal regularly and submit their abstracts as early as possible.
A platform for aquatic veterinary expertise
For African aquatic animal-health professionals, this session represents an opportunity to bring field realities into an international scientific and policy discussion.
Important contributions could include experiences in fish-disease surveillance, farm-level biosecurity, veterinary-service delivery, laboratory capacity, antimicrobial stewardship, aquatic epidemiology, fish welfare and regulation of veterinary medicines.
The session can also help ensure that small-scale farmers are not excluded from the antimicrobial-resistance agenda. Many producers operate with limited access to aquatic veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories, quality medicines and extension services.
Solutions must therefore be scientifically sound, affordable and adapted to local production systems.
Healthy animals, healthy ecosystems, healthy people
The central message of the call is clear: productive aquaculture cannot be built on healthy fish alone.
It also requires clean aquatic environments, safe food, trained farmers, effective veterinary services and responsible medicine use.
By bringing together researchers, practitioners, exhibitors, policymakers and producers, the Aquatic Animal Health, Welfare and Ecosystem Health Session aims to help define practical priorities for the next decade of One Health in aquaculture.
Healthy aquatic animals support healthy ecosystems, safer blue foods and more resilient communities.
Key information
Event: World Aquaculture 2026 Tanzania
Dates: 1–4 December 2026
Venue: Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, Dar es Salaam
Session: Aquatic Animal Health, Welfare and Ecosystem Health
Theme: Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture – A One Health Imperative
Opportunities: Oral and poster abstracts, exhibitions, sponsorships and side events
Contact: wavma.afraq@gmail.com
Submission: Through the official World Aquaculture Society AFRAQ26 portal
