Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Home > Sustainable Fish and Seafood > Aquaculture Sustainability > Therapeutant Use

Institutional links

Therapeutant Use

Maximizing outcome while minimizing impact

The use of therapeutants in aquaculture has been substantially reduced over the last decade by:

  • Improved care of farmed fish
  • Higher quality feed
  • Mandated monitoring and reporting of fish health
  • Early action on disease or sea-lice infestations requiring less medication

The strategic application of therapeutants is encouraged by the National Strategic Action Plan Initiative.  Smart use means keeping fish healthy while protecting the habitats necessary for sustainable aquaculture.


Ensuring the responsible use of therapeutants in Canada’s aquaculture industry

Just like terrestrial animals, farmed fish and shellfish sometimes need to be treated with vaccines, antibiotics or pesticides to combat disease or parasites. And aquaculture operators have a duty of care to the animals under their control to ensure their health and well-being. Any therapeutants used are administered sparingly under strict guidelines from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Therapeutants used must be approved by Health Canada and applied by veterinary prescription. Health Canada has strict rules governing use on animals grown for food to ensure their safe use.

Health Canada strictly regulates any drugs and chemicals used in aquaculture

Health Canada has two separate directorates responsible for regulating the use of therapeutants in the aquaculture industry:

  • Pest Management Regulatory Agency
    This directorate regulates any pesticides used in the aquaculture industry. Before pest control products can be used, they must be deemed safe for the animals, efficacious and safe and for the environment and for eventual human consumption. For further information, visit the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

The types of therapeutants used in aquaculture

Vaccines
Vaccines are available for some common viral and bacterial fish diseases. These vaccines are used in areas where the diseases recur on a regular basis. Vaccine development has had a positive impact by reducing the use of antibiotics on fish farms. Aquatic veterinarians monitor the fish treated with vaccines throughout their entire lifecycle.

What are therapeutants?

Therapeutants are chemical substances used on fish farms or aquaculture operations when necessary to keep aquatic animals (i.e. fish or shellfish) healthy while they are being raised. Therapeutants could be vaccines, antibiotics or pesticides.

In Canada's aquaculture industry, therapeutants are prescribed by licensed veterinarians. Veterinarians are responsible for treatment using the prescribed therapeutant on the fish farm and are also involved with the aquaculture operator to ensure that the treated animals are safe for human consumption.

Antibiotics
Only a few antibiotics are used in aquaculture operations, and those sparingly. They are used to treat some bacterial disease and must be prescribed by licensed veterinarians. In recent years, advances in the use of vaccines have resulted in significant reductions in antibiotic use.

Pesticides
Pesticides are used to treat sea lice and as antifouling agents to protect culture systems.

Ensuring farmed fish are safe to eat

Health Canada has strict rules about therapeutant use on food animals. Maximum residue limits are set and there must be appropriate time after the treatment before the fish can be harvested. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency monitors fish at federal processing plants and tests for the presence of therapeutants in fish and shellfish to ensure they do not exceed the levels set by Health Canada.

Learn more:

Date Modified: 2011-04-27

Top of Page
Important Notices