The Struggles Beneath the Surface
By Dr. Zhimin Huang
Technical Sales Leader & Animal Nutrition Specialist, DPI GLOBAL
When Aquaculture Challenges Aren’t Always Visible
Aquaculture producers know that success isn’t always determined by what can be seen on the surface. While ponds and production systems may appear stable, underlying challenges often tell a different story. Environmental pressures, fluctuating survival rates, inconsistent performance, and rising production costs can quietly erode productivity and profitability over time.
These challenges rarely appear all at once, but their impact is real—creating uncertainty and making it harder for producers to plan confidently from one cycle to the next.
The Hidden Impact of Production Stress
Stressors are an unavoidable part of aquaculture production. Factors such as stocking density, organic load, temperature changes, and overall system pressure can place continuous demands on fish and shrimp.
While these stressors may not always be preventable, their effects can be significant. Over time, ongoing stress can compromise animal health and performance, leading to:
- Disease outbreaks
- Reduced survival rates
- Inconsistent growth
- Lower feed efficiency
- Greater variability between production cycles
When animals are under pressure, their ability to maintain health and perform consistently is often challenged.
Everything in the System Is Connected
In aquaculture, environmental conditions, animal health, feed utilization, and performance are closely linked. When stress increases, animals must redirect energy away from growth and productivity to maintain basic health and balance.
Producers may find themselves:
- Managing the health consequences of stress rather than the stressors themselves
- Investing additional time and resources to maintain consistency
- Facing unpredictability in performance from cycle to cycle
This dynamic can be both financially and operationally demanding, particularly in systems where consistency is critical to success.
Supporting Animal Health Under Real-World Conditions
Lasting improvements in aquaculture don’t come from eliminating every stressor—because that simply isn’t realistic. Instead, progress comes from supporting animal health so fish and shrimp are better equipped to cope with the challenges of production.
When animal health is supported under stress:
- Survival and resilience are strengthened
- Growth becomes more consistent
- Feed utilization improves
- Performance variability is reduced
Helping animals maintain health during periods of stress allows producers to move toward more stable, predictable outcomes.
How DPI GLOBAL Supports Aquaculture Performance
- Micro-Aid (Both Liquid and Feed Grade Concentrate)
- Micro-Shield™
DPI solutions were developed to support animal health in the face of unavoidable production stressors. As part of DPI’s phytogenic portfolio, Micro-Aid® and Micro-Shield™ help animals respond more effectively to the health challenges that arise when stress is present —supporting consistency and performance across production cycles.
Producers using DPI solutions can benefit from:
- Better growth environment
- Support for animal health during periods of stress
- More consistent performance outcomes
- Stronger survival results
- Greater confidence from cycle to cycle
By helping animals manage the health impacts associated with stress, Micro-Aid® and Micro-Shield™ play an important role in supporting reliable aquaculture production and achieving sustainability in aquaculture and the environment.
A Proven Partner in Aquaculture
For more than 60 years, DPI has partnered with producers around the world, delivering all-natural solutions backed by research and real-world application. DPI solutions reflect that commitment—supporting aquaculture operations as they work to improve consistency, performance, and long-term sustainability.
The struggles beneath the surface are real—but with the right support, producers can help animals stay healthy, perform more consistently, and move forward with confidence.
For more information, contact us or visit www.dpiglobal.com.
Meet the Author: Dr. Zhimin Huang
Technical Sales Leader & Animal Nutrition Specialist, DPI GLOBAL
Zhimin serves as an Account Leader and Animal Nutrition Specialist, where she focuses on supporting distributors and customers within the Asian market. Her expertise covers various aspects of account management, including providing technical solutions, developing marketing strategies, and coordinating product registration and transportation. Zhimin is dedicated to building strong trust and lasting friendships with her customers, who consistently enjoy collaborating with her to achieve mutual success.
Outside of her professional life, Zhimin enjoys a busy family life and spends time engaging with diverse languages and cultures.
