Health and Biosecurity

The Health and Biosecurity Programme assists members to reduce the risks of aquatic animal disease impacting the livelihoods of farmers, national economies, trade, environment and human health by:

  • Improving regional cooperation in aquatic animal health and welfare.
  • Developing and implementing national strategies on aquatic animal health.
  • Improving surveillance, reporting and response to disease emergencies.
  • Promoting harmonisation of diagnostic procedures and risk assessment.
  • Widespread promotion of better aquatic animal health management practices at the farm level.

Key activities

Key activities of the programme include:

  • Convening the annual meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, coordinating the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report and bringing regional issues to the attention of global standard setting bodies such as the Office International des Epizooties.
  • Establishment and expansion of a three-tier shared resource in aquatic animal health.
  • Development of farm-level health management tools for key aquaculture commodities.
  • Supporting regional disease surveillance and reporting.
  • Strengthening aquatic animal health and biosecurity in the region.
  • Facilitating harmonisation in disease diagnostic techniques.
  • Developing resource material in support of diagnosis and surveillance.

Contacts

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Related

Subject tags

A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

NACA Newsletter, Vol. XXXIX, October-December 2024

In this issue:

  • Training Programme on Safeguarding Artemia Resources for Aquaculture held in Rome.
  • First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference and Members' Meeting, Ostend, Belgium.
  • Inception workshop: Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation.
  • Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the First Quarter of 2024.
  • 14th Asian fisheries and Aquaculture Forum, India.
  • PhD scholarships: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2025.

Videos available: First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference and Members' Meeting

The first ever IAAC conference was a free half day event held in Ostend, Belgium on 9 September, as a prelude to Larvi 2024, which ran from 9-12 September. The conference featured twelve presentations introducing the IAAC and providing an overview of many of the issues surrounding Artemia, including management of salt lakes habitats that still provide the bulk of global Artemia supplies, Artemia biodiversity, hatching optimisation, and aquaculture of Artemia biomass in tanks and ponds. Video recordings of most will be posted shortly (the programme below will be updated with links). Video recordings of the presentations are now available on the NACA YouTube channel.

The first IAAC Members’ Meeting was held in the afternoon following the IAAC Conference. The proceedings involved two panel discussions, by the Academic Sector and Private Sector respectively. The panels included remote members participating via Zoom.

Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Second Quarter of 2024

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021 NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the second quarter of 2024 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

International Workshop on Aquaculture Medicine and Aquatic Animal Health Management in Asia-Pacific, 16-18 January, Kochi, India

The International Workshop on Aquaculture Medicine and Aquatic Animal Health Management in Asia-Pacific (AQUAMAP25) will take place in Kochi, India, from 16–18 January 2025. This event is organised by the National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH), Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), with NACA as a co-organiser. Abstract submission closes 30 November. Early bird registration ends 15 November.

Workshop themes are: Diseases in Aquatic Animals; Disease Diagnosis in Aquaculture; Sustainable Aquaculture Production Systems; Aquaculture Medicine in Practice; Aquatic Animal Health Management; Policies, Regulations, and Implementation.

14th Asian fisheries and Aquaculture Forum: Early bird closes 10 November

The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) will be held from 12-15 February 2025 in New Delhi, India. Submission of abstracts has been extended until 5 November, and early bird registration closes on 10 November, so get in quick!

The forum is a scientific meeting organised by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) once every three years to understand the global trends and address issues and challenges faced by the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The main purpose of this Forum is to provide an international platform for eminent scientists, young researchers, and other stakeholders across the globe to share their research experiences and innovative ideas. By facilitating the exchange of diverse range of knowledge and expertise, the Forum with the Theme ‘Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific’ aims to address key issues towards developing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture and transformation in Asia-Pacific: Support to the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub

This project contributes to NACA's recent work with the FAO on aquaculture transformation. The aim is to create more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems through innovation, investment, and partnerships. NACA is developing an Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub (AIIH) to help realise this vision in the region, providing a facility that will bring together innovators, startups, and investors to accelerate transformation. The project will contribute to developing National Innovation and Investment Plans for Thailand, The Philippines, and Fiji, which will address issues including climate change, disease prevention and management, environmental sustainability, gender equality and social inclusion, and resource utilisation and management. The project is part of a wider AQUADAPT initiative, a four-year partnership running from 2023-2027, funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre.

Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the First Quarter of 2024

With the implementation of the new aquatic animal disease reporting in the Asia Pacific region from January 2021, and in lieu of the published QAAD Reports (last issue published was 4th quarter of 2020), NACA is publishing reported aquatic animal diseases submitted by countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This report covers the first quarter of 2024 and the original and updated reports can be accessed from the QAAD page.

International Hands-On Training Course on Utilising Microbiome and Genomic Resources for Understanding and Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance in the One Health Context

Nitte University is hosting a five-day international training course focused on utilising microbiome and genomic resources to understand and mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a One Health context. This course aims to build capacity among professionals from low and middle-income countries in managing AMR, a critical global health issue impacting humans, animals, and the environment.

The course is organised by the FAO Reference Centres for Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture Biosecurity and Nitte University, in collaboration with the Indian council of Agricultural Research and FAO. Registration is free but participants must meet their own travel and subsistence costs.

NACA Newsletter, Vol. XXXIX, July-September 2024

In this issue:

  • NACA and Thailand's Department of Fisheries Strengthen Collaboration.
  • Full-degree scholarships and research internship grants from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
  • Manual on Artemia production and use.
  • The Grass Carp Aquaculture Manual.
  • Pacific oyster farming: A practical manual.
  • The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: Blue Transformation in action.
  • Safeguarding salt lake brine shrimp (Artemia) resources for aquaculture: A training project.
  • Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Fourth Quarter of 2023.
  • First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September (hybrid event).

Free seminar: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, 20 June 2024 (hybrid event)

This event, held jointly via Zoom or in person at FAO Headquarters in Rome, will bring together leading experts to delve into the topic of fish vaccination and new developments regarding shrimp vaccination as a vital biosecurity strategy. Current knowledge will be reviewed, examining obstacles, and uncovering opportunities for vaccine development. Bridging theory with actionable practice, the seminar aims to foster informed decision-making, discussing the potential of vaccination and addressing associated challenges. Building upon the success of the Tilapia Health webinar held in December 2021 and Tilapia health: quo vadis, this conference will be a continuation of impactful discussions, promising a dynamic and enriching experience for all participants.