Bacterial infections remain a critical constraint in aquaculture, causing substantial economic losses, reduced productivity, and elevated mortality rates in fish and shellfish production systems. The extensive use of antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), contributed to environmental contamination, and triggered increasing regulatory restrictions. These pressures underscore the urgent need for sustainable, targeted, and scalable alternatives to conventional antimicrobial strategies.

Phage-based biocontrol has emerged as a promising approach. Nevertheless, the transition from proof-of-concept studies to standardized industrial implementation is still limited by challenges related to robustness, large-scale production, formulation stability, regulatory alignment, and integration into established aquaculture workflows.

This presentation will examine the application of bacteriophages targeting key aquaculture pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Aeromonas spp., and Vibrio spp. Phages will be evaluated both as single suspensions and as multi-phage cocktails under conditions that simulate real aquaculture environments, including fish culture tanks, bivalve depuration systems, and live feed production systems.

The objective is to support the structured deployment of phage biocontrol in industrial aquaculture, reduce antibiotic dependency, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient infection management strategy at a global scale.

Strategic question

Can bacteriophages realistically replace antibiotics in aquaculture at industrial scale, delivering consistent results, regulatory acceptance, and economic viability, or will they remain confined to experimental success stories?

During Phage Therapy 2026, the Scientific Committee will examine this question directly, assessing the technical, regulatory, and economic conditions required to move phage biocontrol in aquaculture from controlled experiments to standardized industrial practice.

Targeting Phage Therapy 2026
June 9-10, 2026
 – Valencia, Spain

www.phagetherapy-site.com