The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional disease issues including emerging disease threats. This is the report of the first meeting, held 10-12 November 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand. The report discusses emerging disease problems and regional response to:

• Potential for pathogen exchange between species, eg. between Penaeus monodon and P. vannamei.
• Crustacean diseases: Monodon slow growth syndrome, spread of taura syndrome virus, white body disease in P. monodon, infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus, white tail disease in Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
• Finfish diseases: Koi herpes virus, spring viraemia of carp, bacterial diseases including streptococcosis (Streptococcus iniae and S. difficilis), nocardosis (Nocardia seriolae), Tenacibaculum maritimum and Vibrio spp.
• Mollusc diseases: Abalone viral mortality.

Other issues discussed included:

• Changes to the Asia regional quarterly aquatic animal disease report and list of reportable diseases.
• Progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals.
• Risk analyses on the introduction of P. vannaemei and P. stylirostris to the Asia-Pacific region.
• Strengthening national coordination and communication.
• Development of procedures for management of aquatic animal health emergencies.
• Identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources, including experts, centres and reference laboratories.
• Regional and international collaboration.
• Outcomes of the 72nd General Session of OIE.