Recent developments and improvements in ornamental fish packaging systems for air transport

Abstract

Current ornamental ¢sh packaging systems are characterized by very high ¢sh loading densities and high metabolic wastes in the transport water after shipment. They focus mainly on management of the quality of transport water. Recent studies using the guppy as a model ¢sh showed that post-shipment mortality could be reduced through enhancement of the stress resistance of the ¢sh, and hence emphases should also be placed on the preparation of the ¢sh for transport and recovery of the ¢sh after shipment. Farmers can contribute signi¢cantly by applying nutritional prophylaxis before harvesting. Exporters may use the salinity stress test to identify ¢sh lots of good quality for transport, apply health prophylaxis to eradicate parasites and optimize other techniques such as starvation of the ¢sh or addition of salt to the transport water to enhance the stress resistance of the ¢sh. Importers may adopt proper acclimation procedure and allow ¢sh to recover in low salinity water to reduce post-shipment mortality. As the main bulk of post-shipment mortality is stressmediated and occurs during the 1-week recovery period, the industry should consider revising the basis of the current warranty system for their customers, from death on arrival to cumulative mortality at 7 days post shipment (or death after 7 days, DA7), in order to cut down ¢sh losses after shipment.