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Iranian aquatic resources in the context of climate change: A new perspective on the threats of emerging and re emerging diseases and management imperatives
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Mohammad Jalil Zorriehzahra *   |
| Department of Aquatic Animal Health and Disease, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran , zorrieh@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (23 Views) |
Background and Aim: Climate change, as one of the most significant environmental challenges of the twenty‑first century, has exerted widespread and substantial impacts on natural ecosystems, particularly aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Due to its location within the arid and semi‑arid belt, Iran is affected by this phenomenon more severely than the global average. Rising water temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, intensified droughts, increased salinity, water acidification, and reduced dissolved oxygen are among the direct consequences of climate change that threaten aquatic animal health.
Methods: This study was conducted as an integrative and analytical review. Through the examination and synthesis of credible scientific sources, the impacts of climate change on aquatic animal health and its association with the occurrence of infectious diseases in wild and farmed aquatic populations were evaluated.
Results: The findings indicate that climate‑driven environmental changes, together with factors such as pollution and unsustainable human interventions, induce physiological stress, weaken host immune systems, and create favorable conditions for the growth and proliferation of pathogens. These processes may ultimately lead to the emergence or re‑emergence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases in aquatic species.
Conclusion: The present review suggests that reducing disease risks in aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems requires a shift from reactive approaches toward proactive strategies, including disease modeling, climate‑adaptive management, resilience enhancement, and the strengthening of biosecurity and biosafety measures. |
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| Keywords: Climate change, Aquatic animals, Emerging diseases, Re Emerging diseases, Biosecurity. |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Marine Medicine
Received: 2026/01/28 | Accepted: 2026/06/24 | Published: 2026/09/20
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