Tackling Climate-Driven Diseases in Mediterranean Aquaculture

The Mediterranean Sea is highly vulnerable to climate change, which is reshaping marine biodiversity and promoting the introduction of subtropical and tropical fish species that may carry novel pathogens. Recent outbreaks involving Lactococcus garvieae, Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria, red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), and Tenacibaculum spp. highlight increasing biosecurity threats to major cultured species such as European sea bass, gilthead sea bream, and Atlantic bluefin tuna. Climate-driven changes in environmental conditions and microbial communities also affect pathogen seasonality, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance, further elevating disease risk. Although vaccines exist for some endemic pathogens, their efficacy may be limited by strain variability, and effective vaccines are lacking for several emerging agents, underscoring the need for improved autogenous and farm-specific vaccination strategies. Strengthened prevention requires integrated approaches combining enhanced biosecurity, early detection and monitoring, and innovative risk-assessment tools, including artificial intelligence. This workshop reviewed priority pathogens and identified key challenges and actions to improve disease prevention and support sustainable Mediterranean aquaculture.