Amoebic gill disease is the single biggest disease afflicting the salmon industry in Tasmania. Paramoeba sp. have been identified as the causal organism but relatively little is known of the biology and life cycle of Paramoeba prohibiting the development of cost-effective management practices to contain the effects of the disease. In 1990 AGD was estimated to cost the industry $500,000 per annum. In past years the incidence of AGD has been increasing and a major producer in the Huon Estuary has estimated that AGD now costs their company $300,000 per annum in direct and in-direct costs. Without strategies to reduce or contain AGD, the cost to the industry is likely to continue to increase.

The infecting source of Paramoeba in the environment is currently not known but could be either seawater, sediments, or surfaces of various structures including nets, cage frames and pontoons. If the infecting source could be identified, appropriate management strategies could be devised to minimize the ability of Paramoeba to infect farmed fish by reducing the numbers of Paramoeba in the environment or by minimizing contact with Paramoeba. For example, if structures such as nets harbour Paramoeba, decontamination procedures could be devised. Alternatively, if the sediments and/or the water column are identified as infection sources then avoidance practices could implemented by appropriate placement of cages. Knowledge of the location of the infecting sources of Paramoeba would therefore reduce the detrimental effects of AGD on the farming of Atlantic Salmon and significantly reduce the current high cost in controlling the disease by freshwater bathing.