Dr. K. Pani Prasad, presently Professor and Research Coordinator at Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Andhra Pradesh, India and former Dean (ER) at CIFE, Mumbai, is a distinguished scientist and educator with over 30 years of expertise in fisheries and aquaculture. He has made significant strides in the development of advanced disease diagnostics and environmental management measures, particularly for fish and shrimp farming. He is a recognized authority on  biosecurity, surveillance and antimicrobial resistance. His broad career has spanned roles as a researcher, professor, scientist, extension worker, and administrator, where he has continually driven innovation and excellence in the field.                                                                                                                                                      Dr. Prasad is particularly known for his pioneering work in creating immunodiagnostic kits, which enable rapid and precise detection of diseases in aquaculture. His expertise has made a lasting impact in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, an urgent challenge in modern aquaculture. Beyond his research, Dr. Pani Prasad has contributed his knowledge and leadership to international and national projects. He has served as a National Consultant for esteemed organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Department of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, where he helped enhance quality control in shrimp hatcheries and laboratories.  

Beyond Antibiotics: Rethinking Disease Control in Aquaculture                                                     Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a complex global challenge, driven by the widespread and often indiscriminate use of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease treatment across human, animal, and aquaculture sectors. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is no longer a distant threat—it is an immediate consequence of how antibiotics are used across food production systems. In aquaculture, antibiotics have long been treated as quick fixes for complex health and management problems. This approach is no longer sustainable. The unchecked spread of resistant pathogens now threatens animal health, environmental safety, and the future growth of the sector itself. The solution does not lie in finding new antibiotics, but in using fewer of them—and using them better. Antibiotic prudency must become the norm, not the exception. Equally important is the rapid transition toward effective alternatives. Probiotics, bacteriophages, bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides, lysins, and emerging nanotechnologies offer powerful tools to prevent disease, restore microbial balance, and reduce dependence on antibiotics. These alternatives—natural, synthetic, and biotechnology-driven—represent a paradigm shift from pathogen eradication to resilience building. Yet innovation alone is not enough. Scaling up, regulatory clarity, and field validation remain critical bottlenecks. The fight against AMR in aquaculture demands decisive leadership, science-led policy, and a One Health vision that recognizes the shared fate of aquatic animals, ecosystems, and human health. The time to move beyond antibiotics is now.