Approach to reduce the zoonotic parasite load in fish stocks: When science meets technology

The increasing public awareness on the presence of anisakids in the viscera and mostly the flesh of commercially important fish species provoked the search of technical solutions to reduce the abundance of infective viable larvae at sea. During the last decade, a technological device was tested and improved to check its viability to reduce the presence of parasites in a hot spot epidemiological area with high prevalence on anisakids. The device was monitored under laboratory conditions and at sea in Grand Sole fishing ground. The Technological Device for Avoiding Parasite Discarding at Sea (hereafter TEDEPAD®) is industrial equipment designed to process the viscera are generated on board commercial fishing vessels. This equipment inactivates the zoonotic parasites present in the viscera, especially those of the genus Anisakis (and congeners) affecting humans (anisakidosis and related allergies) and markets, before the offals are returned to the sea. This process would contribute to a substantial reduction of viable infective larvae returning to the water mass, which otherwise would reinfestate the food system if remained untreated. As a consequence, and bearing in mind than a single female of Anisakis spawn about 1.5 million eggs, a minimization of the incidence of infective parasite larvae (firstly in the water mass of the fishing grounds and later on major fish stocks of commercial interest) is expected. The cost-benefit analysis indicates important benefits from different perspectives: the minimization of the dispersion of viable larvae parasites, the reduction of the recruitment of parasites into fish species of commercial interest, the decrease of rejected fishing products, reduction in sanitary expenses to attend parasite-induced pathologies, and increase of the consumer confidence that derives in highest fish purchases. Overall, all these issues will improve the environmental health of the fishing grounds and, in parallel, will provide an important economic positive impact for the fishing sector.