- Two new Aquatic Parasiticide developed and Available Soon by KMOF -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) recently announced that it has successfully developed the technology to produce two new types of aquatic parasiticides (febantal and fenbendazole) for effective treatment of gill flukes of Korean rockfish and transferred the technology to 20 private pharmaceutical firms by early July.

The fish gill fluke Microcotyle sebastis is a well-known blood-sucking parasite that sticks to the gills and causes anemia in Korean rockfish, one of the major domestic fish farm species. The parasite has continuingly caused damage to fish farms by loss of mass fish death. However, extermination and removals are not easy and effective because recently the gill flukes have become increasingly resistant to the existing parasiticide drugs. So far, almost all manufacturers of the drug have used only a single-ingredient- (Praziquantel), apparently giving chance to the fish parasites to develop immunity and tolerance, requiring more drug uses for the same task of parasite removal. Naturally there have been persistent demands for the development of the new, more effective aquatic parasite drugs.

To address such demands, the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries initiated the research to develop new ingredients for aquatic parasite drugs in 2020 and has confirmed the effectiveness of febantal and fenbendazole on infections from gill flukes. The safety, effectiveness, and residue of the drugs were tested until the first half of 2021, and the technology for product development was transferred to the civil private pharmaceutical companies by early July.

The recipients of the technology will complete the clinical tests in the fish farm environment until the end of the year. Based on the results, standards on the maximum residue limit of the fishery products and on the safe use of drugs, including withdrawal periods, will be prepared, and the products will be commercialized by the first half of 2022.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries supports research on the development of aquatic drugs for two types of mariculture organisms every year to prevent the spread of related diseases and to resolve the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry. The Ministry plans to continue its efforts for the development of aquatic drugs in preparation for the worsening climate change situation, habitat changes, and the consequent spread of diseases in order to minimize damages to the fish farming sector.

Choi Hyun-Ho, Director General of Fisheries Infrastructure and Aquaculture Policy Bureau at the Ministry, commented that “the development of new aquatic parasite drugs is expected to offer more options for the treatment of diseases at fishing community and to ultimately improve the productivity of the fish farm businesses.” He also added that “(the Ministry) will continue to cooperate with the private sector to develop aquatic medicine that can help the fish farms and fisheries workers.”