| In 1985, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) was introduced in Martinique in arder to replace sea bass fish farming. Nodavirus antibodies were detected in the broodstock at the IFREMER station in Robert. Nodavirus is responsible for viral nervous necrosis, a disease that is spreading quickly in worlwide marine aquaculture. A biosecurity process was initiated at the Robert hatchery to select seronegative breeders and produce nodavirus free larvae. This process, based on a serological follow-up of fish antibodies by ELISA, allowed a reduction of the number of seropositive fish. A complementary serological study revealed a low incidence of nodavirus contamination in nodavirus free larvae placed in sea cages on different production sites |
