Animal production agriculture including production of aquatic species is increasingly required to deal with a series of public issues. Some of these issues include operational questions and concerns, process issues, antimicrobial use, and welfare concerns to name a few. A demonstrable fish welfare program is becoming increasingly important to all segments of aquaculture production and the entire aquaculture value chain regardless of the species of fish being raised.
Aqua Care365® is an internet-based education & training resource that addresses aspects of fish care and fish welfare. Aqua Care365 initially focuses on Atlantic salmon production but does have application to the culture of other fish species as well. The components of Aqua Care365 include video training modules with individual topic lessons, quizzes, completion certificates, and customizable Standard Operating Procedures/Best Practices for each lesson. Aqua Care365 was developed in a collaborative manner with participation by salmon production companies, fish veterinarians, aquaculture industry allied organizations, subject matter experts, & Merck Animal Health. Since Aqua Care365 was also developed in conjunction with certification groups, this program can be a valuable tool to help producers meet the requirements of certification program standards.
The Aqua Care365 program is intended to be a resource to support fish farmers, fish farm employees, production facilities & sites, aquatic veterinarians, and anyone with an interest in promoting the health, well-being, and care of fish. The Aqua Care365 program may also be helpful to veterinarians interested in learning more about commercial aquaculture as well as serve as a training & educational tool for clients.