The Introduction of the Special Issue

Comparing to fishing, aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms through the rearing process, where allows a selective increase in the production of the most preferable species for human consumption and enhance their production and private ownership of the stock being cultivated. Also, aquaculture's contribution to world food production, raw materials for industrial and pharmaceutical use, and aquatic organisms for stocking or ornamental trade has increased dramatically in recent decades. However, the intensification of aquaculture practices requires cultivation at high densities, which has caused significant damage to the environment due to discharges of concentrated organic wastes, that deplete dissolved oxygen in ponds, giving rise to toxic metabolites that often are responsible for mortality. Moreover, under these conditions of intensive production, aquatic species are subjected to high-stress conditions, increasing the incidence of diseases and causing a decrease in productivity. Outbreaks of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections have caused devastating economic losses worldwide. In recent decades, prevention and control of animal diseases has focused on the use of chemical additives and veterinary medicines, especially antibiotics, which generate significant risks to public health by promoting the selection, propagation, and persistence of bacterial-resistant strains.

Probiotic is a relatively new term which is used to name microorganisms that are associated with the beneficial effects for the host. The role of probiotics in aquaculture is the use of bacterial amendments has been recommended for use in aquaculture ponds to obtain several benefits as they may:

·Improve feed conversion efficiency.

· Enhance immunity and disease resistance.

· Improve nutrient absorption.

· Change bacterial composition in the gut by excluding undesirable forms.

· Reduce mortality.

· Enhance production and increase harvest yield.

· Eliminate antibiotic use.

So what are the present and updated concept of probiotics usage in aquaculture field, its commercial presentations, and a final approach to prospect applications in this area.

The Research Scope of the Special Issue

· Probiotics as mean of aquaculture diseases control

· Types of probiotics used in aquaculture

· Mode of action of probiotics during fish rearing process  

· Updated applications of probiotics in aquaculture

· Economic value of probiotics in the aquaculture

Submission guidelines

All papers should be submitted via the Probe-Fishery Science & Aquaculture submission system: http://probe.usp-pl.com/index.php/FSA

Submitted articles should not be published or under review elsewhere. All submissions will be subject to the journal’s standard peer review process. Criteria for acceptance include originality, contribution, scientific merit and relevance to the field of interest of the Special Issue.

Important Dates

Paper Submission Due: Waiting for confirmation

The Lead Guest Editor

Khouloud M. Barakat