IIL forays into aquaculture health mkt

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based animal and human vaccine maker Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) announced its foray into aquaculture health segment with the launch of products for shrimp and fish. IIL's foray into the segment will be in multiple phases, comprising of various products including vaccines.

The total fish production in the country is estimated at 6.24 million metric tons (MMT) in 2018. Around 40 per cent of shrimp is exported to the US followed by 30 per cent to Vietnam and nearly 15 per cent to European Union. IIL plans to serve the export markets demand of antibiotic free products.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of IIL, Dr K Anand Kumar said, "IIL is committed to introduce products including vaccines that will significantly reduce the usage of antibiotics in the aqua health industry."

IIL with its strong research and development team, has all the technological capabilities to manufacture vaccines for aqua health management, the Deputy Managing Director of IIL, Dr Priyabrata Pattnaik said adding that "IIL as a one health company, through its foray into aquaculture health segment intend to play a role in minimising use of antibiotics, ultimately protecting our environment and health."

Pattnaik further explained that the growth in the fish farming sector mainly comes from the freshwater aquaculture sector. Though India holds the second position in the world for freshwater fish farmed production, freshwater fish farming in India is still based on traditional methods – large ponds, no water exchange, no draining, and no bottom sediment removal – that often lead to conditions that promote disease. Many fish farmers are tempted to use high dose of antibiotics to treat such disease that ultimately leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).