Aquatic Animal Quarantine And Health Certification In Asia

Quarantine programmes form part of a first time of defence against possible adverse effects resulting from the transboundary movement of aquatic species. Although codes of practice for the international movement of aquatic animals have been developed by various international organisations, in many countries they have rarely been applied. Nevertheless, they provide a starting point for designing national and regional fish health regulations as well as international agreements aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic animal pathogens. To assist the countries of Asia in formulating technical guidelines on health certification and quarantine for the responsible transboundary movement of aquatic animals, FAO, in collaboration with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), the Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute of the Thai Department of Fisheries (AAHRI) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), conducted a workshop in January 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand to review the existing knowledge on aquatic animal quarantine and health certification in Asia and to develop an agreed-upon strategy for the formulation of technical guidelines. This document contains ten country papers presented at the workshop, some technical background information on general principles of aquatic animal quarantine, existing codes of practice, the agreed-upon strategy and the recommendations of the workshop. Contents Section I: Background to the Workshop Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Objectives of the Workshop; Chapter 3: Background; Chapter 4: Regional Approach; Chapter 5: Previous Regional Recommendations; Chapter 6: Socio-economic Importance of Diseases; Chapter 7: Way Forwards. Section II: The Workshop Chapter 1: Opening Ceremony; Chapter 2: Presentation of Country Reports; Chapter 3: Workshop Discussion; Chapter 4: Fundamental Principles for Regional Quarantine; Chapter 5: Proposed Regional Strategy; Chapter 6: Workshop Closing Remarks. Annexures Annex 1: Workshop Programme; Annex 2: List of Workshop Participants; Annex 3: Keynote Address; Annex 4: Welcome Address; Annex 5: Country Reports: Bangladesh, Cambodia, P R China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand; Annex 6: General Principles for Regional Quarantine; Annex 7: Regional Strategy; Annex 8: Quarantine Codes, Practices, Procedures and Guidelines; Annex 9: Bibliography of Selected Literature Relevant to Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Health Certification in Asia.

This document contains ten country papers presented at the workshop, some technical background information on general principles of aquatic animal quanantine, existing Codes of Practice, the agreed-upon-strategy, and the recommendations of the workshop.

Technical guidelines on Asia regional health management for the responsible transboundary movement of live aquatic animals were developed and presented to the participating countries at a workshop held in Beijing, China, from 27 to 30 June 2000.

This publication provides background material and detailed technical procedures to assist countries and territories in Asia in implementing the Asia regional technical guidelines on health management for the responsible movement of live aquatic animals. The technical guidelines and their associated implementation plan, the Beijing consensus and implementation strategy (BCIS) (See FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no. 402), provide expert guidance for national and regional efforts to reduce the risks of disease due to transboundary movement of live aquatic animals.

Quarantine is an important risk management measure and a key activity that should be considered when developing national strategies for aquatic animal health management. It can also be used effectively to increase biosecurity at the farm production level. This manual outlines the technical requirements for setting up quarantine facilities at three levels, based on the general level of risk (as determined by risk analysis) represented by the specific consignment of aquatic animals being moved: (i) the quarantine of "high risk" species (e.g. aquatic animals being moved either internationally through introductions and transfers or domestically between regions of different health status that are destined for use in aquaculture, capture fishery development or other applications where release or escape of animals or any pathogens they may be carrying into the natural environment is likely to occur; (ii) the quarantine of "lower risk" species (e.g. aquatic animals destined for the ornamental trade) to improve biosecurity for aquatic animals whose trade is an established practice; and (iii) the routine quarantine of aquatic animals at production facilities (e.g. new, domestically produced or locally captured broodstock or juveniles or animals whose movement has been contingent upon additional, more stringent, risk management measures, such as the use of Specific Pathogen Free stocks, international health certification, pre-border and/or border quarantine, etc.). This manual should be useful to government policy-makers and responsible national and state agencies in assessing their need for quarantine capacity and in implementing aquatic animal quarantine in an effective and cost-efficient manner within the framework of national and state aquatic biosecurity programmes. It also provides useful guidance to responsible agencies, their technical staff and the private sector in setting up of effective quarantine facilities and their daily operation.

The Regional Workshop on Preparedness and Response to Aquatic Animal Health Emergencies focused on emergency planning and responses to serious outbreaks of aquatic animal diseases in Asia. These proceedings include all papers presented, group reports and resulting recommendations. The material covers a wide range of topics, from a review of the history, current status and socio-economic impacts of transboundary aquatic animal diseases in Asia to analyses of regional needs in areas such as contingency planning, legislation and capacity building.

In 1994, world aquaculture production reached 25.5 million tonnes, valued at US$ 39.83 billion. Asia contributed 89.9 per cent of this total and has since continued to dominate global production. The drive to produce more fish and shellfish to meet the growing demand has led many aquaculturists in Asia to intensify their operations. In many instances, the complex balance between fish/shellfish and their environment is not well understood, the organism under culture becoming stressed and prone to infections. Disease has been and will continue to be a major constraint to the development of the aquaculture industry. Considering the FAO s priority on developing sustainable aquaculture, the large Asian contribution to global aquaculture production and the seemingly high losses of revenue due to disease and health-related problems, FAO, in consultation with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific region (NACA), the Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (AAHRI), the South-East Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) and the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), and in collaboration with the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (FHA/AFS), organised a Regional Expert Consultation on Aquaculture Health Management in Asia and the Pacific, which was held at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in Serdang, Malaysia in May 1995. This document comprises the technical papers presented at the Consultation, and is a supplement to the report of the consultation, FAO Fisheries Report No 529 (FAO, Rome 1995). Contents Chapter 1: Better Health Management in the Asia-Pacific through Systems Management by Michael J Phillips; Chapter 2: Fish and Shellfish Quarantine: The Reality for Asia-Pacific by J Richard Arthur; Chapter 3: Fish and Mollusc Health Research in the Asia-Pacific: Present Status and Future Directions by R B Callinan; Chapter 4: Shrimp Health Research in the Asia-Pacific: Present Status and Future Directives by Celia R Lavilla Pigoto; Chapter 5: Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Fish Health Management in the Asia Pacific by Mohammed Shariff; Chapter 6: Training and Extension in Aquaculture Health Management in the Asia-Pacific: Present Status and Future Requirements by Kamonporn Tonghuthai; Chapter 7: Health Management Strategy for a Rapidly Developing Shrimp Industry: An Indian Perspective by C V Mohan; Chapter 8: A Review of the Traditional and Innovative Aquaculture Health Management in the People s Republic of China by Jiang Yulin; Chapter 9: An Overview of Health Management of Coldwater Fish and Shrimp in Japanese Aquaculture by Kiyoshi Inouye; Chapter 10: Aquaculture Health Management in Singapore: Current Status and Future Directions by Frederic H C Chua; Chapter 11: Shrimp Farming in Sri Lanka: Health Management and Environmental Considerations by P K M Wijegoonawardena and P P G S N Siriwardena; Chapter 12: Quarantine Practices Used in Papua New Guinea for Introduction and Transfers of Live Fish by Ursula M Kolkolo.