The Future of Shrimp Farming: Technology vs Traditional Antibiotic Use
What’s the Problem with Antibiotic Use in Shrimp Farming?
Today, in many shrimp farms, antibiotics are still used as a quick fix to control bacterial outbreaks. But improper antibiotic use often without accurate and reliable knowledge or guidelines can lead to long-term damages: drug-resistant bacteria, unsafe food, and environmental degradation.
So, what are the alternatives? And how can farms maintain healthy shrimps without sacrificing productivity or sustainability?
The Hidden Costs of Antibiotics in Aquaculture
Despite their common usage, antibiotics use in shrimp farming is a relatively controversial issue, balancing disease prevention with concerns over food safety, environmental impact, and antibiotic resistance. While antibiotics are used to combat Vibrio-related diseases in shrimp farms, they are often misused. Without proper training, farmers may accidentally overdose or administer antibiotics incorrectly.
This creates harmful ripple effects that can continue in the long term:
1. Food Safety Violations
Residual antibiotics in shrimps left from excessive antibiotics dosage can pose severe health concerns for consumers. Some of the health concerns include headaches, allergic reactions and more. Additionally, countries with strict antibiotics residue regulations might reject exports of such shrimps, affecting trade relationships.
2. Increased Risks of Antibiotic Resistance
Repetitive and long-term exposure to antibiotics can result in certain bacterial species such as Enterobacter hormaechei and Vibrio parahaemolyticus gaining antibiotic-resistance. These antibiotic-resistant genes can possibly be transmitted to human pathogenic bacteria that can infect humans via direct contact, water or seafood consumption. Thus, this increases the possibility of some antibiotics used to kill human pathogenic bacteria being ineffective in the future. Farmers, who regularly handle feed or pond water, are especially vulnerable.
3. Environmental degradation
Unconsumed antibiotic-laced feed can leach into pond water and soil sediments. Persistent compounds in the antibiotics such as Sulphonamides disrupt aquatic ecosystems, damaging plant growth and causing deformities in aquatic species like Danio rerio (Zebra fish).
Moving Beyond Antibiotics: The Smarter Alternative
Night View of a TOMGOXY™ Shrimp Pond - Sustainable Shrimp Farming, Free From Antibiotics
RYNAN Technologies has developed TOMGOXY™, a digital shrimp farming system designed to eliminate the dependency on excessive antibiotics.
The system combines AI, IoT sensors, and automated controls to monitor and regulate key water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and temperature in real time. By providing key and up-to-date information about the pond conditions, TOMGOXY™ reduces the need for excessive and unnecessary chemical interventions in managing shrimp health and minimizes stress on the shrimps.
How TOMGOXY™ Shrimp Farms Are Different
TOMGOXY™ revolutionizes shrimp farming by integrating advanced technology and sustainable practices into the farming system. Unlike traditional farms that rely strongly on chemical treatments and inefficient land use, TOMGOXY™ uses a wider range of treatment types and minimizes the unnecessary use of antibiotics, emphasizing on prevention, efficiency, and sustainability.
So, how does our TOMGOXY™ fare better than the traditional farms?
TOMGOXY™ Intensive Farm - Sustainable Aquaculture for a Greener Future
1. Optimized Land Use
TOMGOXY™ consists of 50% grow-out ponds and 50% water treatment, maximizing space and increasing production efficiency.
2. Circular Farming System
The shrimp waste produced from the shrimps will be naturally consumed by fishes, while algae ponds enhance oxygen levels for the shrimps, creating a self-sustaining loop in this ecosystem.
3. Centralized Oxygenation
A unified oxygen system reduces energy costs and ensures consistent oxygen quality in the farm water.
4. Real-Time Monitoring and Smart Automation
AI-powered sensors track dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, temperature, and other critical parameters in the water for precise, automated control.
5. Solar-powered Infrastructure
Solar roofs reduce the need for carbon-intensive energy sources, cutting down on Carbon Dioxide emissions, lowering overall energy consumption.
Revolutionizing Shrimp Farms with AquaTech
It is time for shrimp farming practices to adopt more modern Aquaculture Technologies, enabling them to support more energy-effective, safer and sustainable shrimp farms. Shrimp farming can support the livelihoods and profitability of Aquaculture farmers, and it also provides an important food source of protein for the communities. Thus, it is crucial for the relevant stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of such shrimp farms, and TOMGOXY™ can play a role in doing so.
Interested in building a tech-powered shrimp farm? Let’s talk at https://rynanaquaculture.com/contact-us!
Sources:
Bungau, S., Tit, D. M., Behl, T., Aleya, L., & Zaha, D. C. (2020). Aspects of excessive antibiotic consumption and environmental influences correlated with the occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial agents. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, 19, 100224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2020.10.012
Holmström, K., Gräslund, S., Wahlström, A., Poungshompoo, S., Bengtsson, B., & Kautsky, N. (2003). Antibiotic use in shrimp farming and implications for environmental impacts and human health. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 38(3), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2621.2003.00671.x
Okocha, R. C., Olatoye, I. O., & Adedeji, O. B. (2018). Food safety impacts of antimicrobial use and their residues in aquaculture. Public Health Reviews, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-018-0099-2
Peng, T., Song, B., Wang, Y., Yuan, J., Yang, Z., & Tang, L. (2025). Trophic transfer of sulfonamide antibiotics in aquatic food chains:a comprehensive review with a focus on environmental health risks. Environmental Pollution, 125823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125823