Cleaning And Disinfection Procedures In Aquaculture Using Huvepharma Hygiene Products

Description of hatcheries and nurseries in aquaculture

The European Union, in Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 define hatcheries and nurseries as "places for the artificial breeding, hatching, and rearing through the early life stages of aquatic animals". This includes all aquatic species.

The main purpose of hatcheries and nurseries is to produce juveniles for transfer to other facilities, where they are grown until they reach a commercial size. The use of hatcheries and nurseries also serve the purpose of reducing the dependence on wild-caught juveniles, out-of-season production, compensatory growth gain, quarantine as support to limit disease spread, and genetic applications.

The hatchery will be set up based on the species. In general, however, hatcheries can be recognised by seven main structural elements: 

1. Building and infrastructure: walled, with or without a roof
2. Water supply system: from the main water inlet to the production tanks
3. Air supply system: aeration and oxygenation are provided for almost the entire productive cycle of animals and algae
4. Live food rearing tanks: for the production of zooplankton as feed
5. Algal rearing tanks: also used as feed for some species of animals
6. Larval culture tanks: different sizes, shapes and materials are used according to the species cultivated
7. General equipment, devices, and materials: used to maintain, support and help in production. Examples include blowers, pumps, buckets, nets, automatic feeders etc.

A typical shrimp nursery facility is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Typical shrimp nursery facility

Cleaning and disinfection protocols

Product utilisation

It is important to note that the following cleaning and disinfection protocols must be carried out during the sanitary break and without the presence of animals. Figure 2 shows which products should be used on which structural element. 

Figure 2. Overview of products to use for cleaning and disinfection of different structural elements

Protocol for tanks and reservoirs in concrete and plastic liners

Figure 3 shows an example of a tank with a plastic liner. 

After harvest

• Empty all the tank and reservoirs
• Spray a 2% solution of DT Foam® with a high-pressure sprayer on all surfaces (inside and outside) and leave for 20 minutes 
• Rinse with clean water using a high-pressure sprayer
• Prepare a 0.6% solution of Vulkan® Max and spray on all surfaces (inside and outside). Pay attention to corners. Use 200 ml of solution per m²
• Allow a minimum of 30 minutes for the foam to act
• Rinse with clean water

Before stocking

• Prepare a 1% solution of Prophyl® S and spray on inside surfaces at a rate of 200 ml/m²
• Let the product act for a minimum of 30 minutes
• Rinse with enough clean water
• The tank is now ready for stocking

Figure 3. Plastic liner tanks used in aquaculture

Protocol for water pipelines

Figure 4 shows an example of the pipelines and water filtration systems used in nurseries and hatcheries. 

Cleaning

• Remove all filtering material (sand, cartridges etc) from the mechanical filters and the lamps from UV systems
• Empty all water pipelines
• Fill the pipes with a 2-3% solution of DT Smart® and leave it for 1 hour in stagnant water systems, or 30 minutes in circulation
• Empty the pipes and flush until with water runs clear

Disinfection

• Fill the pipelines with a 1.5% solution of Iodol® 100 and leave for 1 hour in stagnant water pipes. Alternatively, prepare a 0.2% solution of Iodol® 100 and allow it to circulate for 30 minutes
• Empty the pipelines and flush with clean, fresh water until no dirt is present in the pipelines

Figure 4. Pipelines and water filtration systems used in nurseries and hatcheries

Protocol for equipment and structures

Figure 5 shows a typical nursery facility.

Equipment - i.e. feeding systems, buckets, nets, laboratory materials etc

• Remove all equipment, disassemble machinery and outfits
• Dip each piece in a 2% solution of DT Foam® for 20 minutes
• Brush and rinse
• Dip each piece in a 1% solution of Prophyl® S and leave for 30 minutes
• Rinse
• Return equipment, reassemble machinery

Floor, ceilings and walls

• Wash with a 2% solution of DT Foam®, applied with a high-pressure system or by brushing
• Let the product act for 20 minutes then rinse with water
• Disinfect with a 0.8% solution of Vulkan® Max applied by low pressure spraying or brushing. Pay attention to the live food room (Artemia, rotifer)
• Leave for a minimum of 30 minutes
• Rinse with clean water

Figure 5. General view of nursery facilities and Artemia room

Protocol for large ponds with concrete floors and walls

Figure 6 shows a typical nursery unit with large tanks housed in concrete.

After harvesting

• Empty the tanks
• Wash with a non-foaming cleaner (DT Smart®) at a 3% solution
• Rinse with high pressure water
• Prepare a 1% solution of Prophyl® S and spray onto the basin floor and walls at a rate of 300 ml/m²
• Leave the product to act for a minimum of 60 minutes
• Fill the tanks with clean water to rinse

Before stocking the animals

• Rinse with clean water
• The tanks are now ready to receive the animals

Figure 6. Large tanks in concrete used in nurseries

Protocol for large tanks or ponds with dirty floors and walls

Figure 7 shows examples of large tanks with concrete or HDPE walls and dirty floors. 

After harvesting

• Empty the tanks
• Prepare a 2% solution of Prophyl® S and spray onto the basin floor and walls at a rate of 400 ml/m²
• Leave the product to act for 1 day (24 hours)
• Fill the pond with clean water and discard to rinse

Figure 7. Large ponds with concrete or HDPE walls and dirty floors

The Huvepharma sales team can be contacted for adapted and tailor-made protocols.