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Aquaculture industries in Japan often suffer from severe diseases. The major diseases occurring in cultured species in Japan in 1993 can be categorized according to their causative agents: bacterial = 37; parasitic = 17; viral =11; fungal = 4; concurrent = 1; other = 9. Against the bacterial diseases, there are 25 approved drugs marketed in Japan (status March 1997) and used under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council is involved in licensing and evaluating drugs as to their safety, efficacy and residues prior to marketing aquatic products. Compared to bacterial diseases, no preventive measures or therapeutants are available to cope with viral infections. In the past, vibriosis in salmonids was a serious problem, however, due to the introduction of a vibriosis bacterin, severe economic losses from this disease have been greatly reduced. Besides the use of vaccines or antimicrobial agents, existing experience suggests that the addition of an 'UGF' (Unidentified Growth Factor) to fish feeds at a level of 2 % does support healthy growth while significantly inducing non-specific high hematocrit values.