• Additionally, due to the rapid increase and the resulting significant differential in fish size, cannibalism is a significant issue in the production of sea bass during the nursery and initial grow-out period which can cause serious mortality and skin irritation on the head and tail, leading to secondary bacterial infections.

• Size grading should be carried out to eliminate size differences in the early nursery stages (20–35 mm body length) every three to four days and in larger fish (50–100 mm body length) should be evaluated every seven days.

• These assessments must be done using well planned procedures and handled efficiently to avoid handling stress and damage that can lead to secondary bacterial infections such as tenacibaculosis and vibriosis.

• Rapidly growing fish in intensively filled tanks must be maintained with optimum levels of Dissolved oxygen as it can quickly go under four ppm, increasing the organic load.

• The use of excellent thermal rotations keeps DO levels in check and prevent the buildup of organic material and bacteria that can cause disease occurrences.

• Streptococcosis and tenacibaculosis were linked to a greater mortality rate during higher temperatures with less dissolved oxygen.

• For streptococci in fish weighing less than 3 g, a monovalent inactivated vaccine or bath immunizations may be an alternative.

• Intraperitoneal immunizations are routinely given in fish weighing more than 20 g to extend protection during the grow-out period.

Grow-out

• Fish should be inoculated against major infections before being stocked into marine cages.

• Fish in sea cages are difficult to treat. Bath treatments are both time-consuming and distressing for the fish.

• Oral treatments are difficult to administer as fish are typically not fed when the disease is detected,

• Proper handling, knowledge on basic fish health, adequate planning and the right equipment, handling time and conditions can be optimised with sufficient aeration, good water exchanges, and anesthetics.

• Since cannibalism in L. calcarifer during the early stages of growth pose a serious concern, grading should be done until the species weigh about 300 g.

• The efficiency of Streptococcus iniae immunization in fish has been demonstrated to be reduced by parasitism or immunosuppression.

• Vaccination effectiveness measures that reduce stress must be developed along with parasite control programs and fish husbandry.

• L. calcarifer farmed in Asia have revealed age-related vulnerability to disease due to stocking of older fish into marine cages

• Each farm site frequently has multiple age groups of L. calcarifer, older carrier fish can be a source of infectious pathogens which should be avoided in the future for better disease management.