A therapeutic treatment for vibriosis in shrimp aquaculture

The most prominent issue facing the aquaculture industry is the threat of diseases from marine pathogens. Disease management accounts for more than $8.5 billion in economic impact for the shrimp industry alone. The effects from marine pathogens on aquaculture result in million metric tons (MMTs) of loss of protein production for local aquaculture farmers. Thus, to accommodate the losses by U.S. farmers, the amount of imported fish and shellfish into the U.S. has increased over the years, resulting in 3,158.7 thousand metric tons of total fish and shellfish being imported into the U.S. in 2022. The total shellfish alone imported into the U.S. in 2022 comprised 1,752.6 thousand metric tons costing $34 million. Further, due to increasing demands, protein production will need to increase by >50% by 2050, and aquaculture will dominate this market.We are developing a therapeutic to be used by farmers as an additive in shrimp food that will act as a cost-effective prophylactic and responsive treatment for vibriosis in shrimp aquaculture farms. Our product will stop disease in aquaculture shrimp ponds allowing for increased production and minimizing protein loss. The outcome will be increased local seafood production and a decreased reliance on imported seafood, thereby securing U.S. jobs and minimizing effects of inflation on aquaculture protein sources. The importance of this solution aligns with the executive order 14276, "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness", in which we aim to help reduce regulatory burdens and increase production in domestic fisheries.