1. Aquaculture is replacing capture fisheries in supplying the world with dietary protein. Although disease is a major threat to aquaculture production, the underlying global epidemiological patterns are unknown. 2. We analysed disease outbreak severity across different latitudes in a diverse range of aquaculture systems. 3. Disease at lower latitudes progresses more rapidly and results in higher cumulative mortality, in particular at early stages of development and in shellfish. 4. Tropical countries suffer proportionally greater losses in aquaculture during disease outbreaks and have less time to mitigate losses. 5. Synthesis and applications. Disease can present a major problem for food production and security in equatorial regions where fish and shellfish provide a major source of dietary protein. As the incidences of some infectious diseases may increase with climate change, adaptation strategies must consider global patterns in disease vulnerability of aquaculture and develop options to minimize impacts on food production.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	climate change adaptation, disease, epidemiology, epizootics, latitudinal trend
Research Division:	Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries Sciences
Research Field:	Fish Pests and Diseases
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Land and Water Management
Objective Field:	Coastal and Estuarine Water Management
Author:	Bates, AE (Dr Amanda Bates)
ID Code:	89735
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	41
Deposited By:	Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration
Deposited On:	2014-03-13
Last Modified:	2014-05-07
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