Health and welfare

The Aquatic Animal Health 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

Creative Commons Attribution.

Related

Subject tags

A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

Thematic review on management strategies for major diseases in shrimp aquaculture

This document presents the report of the Expert Workshop on Management Strategies for Major Diseases in Shrimp Aquaculture. The report includes summaries of fifteen national review papers on the history and current national status of major shrimp diseases, including their socioeconomic impacts and an evaluation of the successes and failures of state and private sector interventions to solve major disease problems and to develop more sustainable shrimp culture industries, and four thematic reviews.

Shrimp Health Management Extension Manual

This extension manual summarises farm level risk factors and practical management practices that can be used to reduce risks of shrimp disease outbreaks and improve farm production. The recommendations are based on a study conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India. The publication is therefore of particular relevance to Andhra Pradesh, but many recommendations are still of use to farmers from other areas.

Asia Diagnostic Guide to Aquatic Animal Diseases

The most comprehensive aquatic disease guide ever published in the region. It covers economically significant diseases of molluscs, fish and crustaceans. Contains information on laboratory and diagnostic techniques, causative agents and distribution, host range, clinical aspects, screening methods, diagnostic procedures, modes of transmission, control measures. Includes contact details for technical support services throughout the region and national health coordinators.

Report of the third meeting of the Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health, 23-25 November 2004

The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional health issues including emerging disease threats. This report includes a review of regional disease status circa 2004, global and regional disease reporting arrangements, global issues and standards, progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals, identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources and regional and international cooperation.

Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report, April-June 2005

This report, the 28th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of seventeen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses the need for improved surveillance and transparent reporting of aquatic animal disease.

Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Report, January-March 2005

This report, the 27th in the series, contains information about the aquatic animal health status of fifteen states in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreword discusses identification of regional expertise in aquatic animal health, in terms of experts, resource centres and reference laboratories.

NACA Newsletter Volume XX, No. 1, January-March 2005

In this issue:

Tsunami: The long road to recovery. Special Program in Response to the Tsunami. Rebuilding cage aquaculture and eco-tourism at Koh Yao Noi, Thailand. Cash for work, Aceh Indonesia. Assessment of tsunami impacts in Thailand and Indonesia. Consortium to Restore Shattered Livelihoods in Tsunami-devastated Nations. Regional Workshop on Rehabilitation of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Coastal Communities of tsunami affected countries in Asia. Outcomes of Governing Council 16. New grouper feed and marine finfish hatchery guides. Towards a framework for a pro-poor regional strategy for sustainable aquatic resources management in Asia-Pacific. Artificial propagation of indigenous fish species in Sarawak, Malaysia. Inauguration of the National Advisory Committee on Aquatic Animal Health of Viet Nam. Supporting Viet Nam to make an informed decision towards Penaeus vannamei farming. Health group calls for improved surveillance and reporting. Training and study tours in Q1 2005-05-25. TVR 'Ramu' Pillay (1921-2005).

Abalone viral mortality: Disease card

Recognising the importance of abalone viral mortality, in terms of its potential to spread and cause economic loss, "abalone viral mortality" was included for listing in the regional NACA/FAO/OIE quarterly aquatic animal disease (QAAD) reporting list under "unknown diseases of serious nature" effective first quarter of 2004. This disease card is developed to provide information to national authorities and support the regional QAAD reporting system.

Haemorrhagic disease of grass carp: Disease card

Hemorrhagic disease of grass carp is a serious viral disease affecting grass carp fingerlings. The disease has the potential to spread and cause serious economic loss in countries of the region. This disease card is developed to raise awareness and support surveillance efforts of countries in the region.

Aquaculture Development Beyond 2000: The Bangkok Declaration and Strategy

The main output of the International Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium. The Declaration summarises the key impediments and opportunities in aquaculture development that are likely to arise over the next 20 years and provides strategic policy guidance for sustainable aquaculture development. The Declaration was adopted by conference participants in a plenary session.