08/05/14: Regional Cooperation for Improved Biosecurity

Raising awareness of the link between genetics and disease will be addressed by the global aquaculture community at a special session on regional cooperation for improved biosecurity on 11 June at World Aquaculture Adelaide 2014 (WAA14).

Aquatic animal health issues cause massive losses in the aquaculture industry each year. It is estimated that across the global tropical shrimp industry alone around 40% of production is lost to disease.

shrimp-heads-dau-tom (Photo credit: Phú Thịnh Co)

Much of the impact falls upon small-scale farmers, who are not equipped to deal with disease outbreaks. These often have devastating effects on their incomes and livelihoods.  Larger scale commercial producers are also not immune from disease issues, often suffering major financial setbacks due to outbreaks which can also impact on international trade.

Effective health management is a shared responsibility that requires a coordinated approach from all countries. Participants of the Conference will have the opportunity to network and discuss this important issue.

The session organised by Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia Pacific and sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research aims to bring together industry and scientists to discuss closer cooperation in health management and biosecurity.

The session will be organised into three sub-sessions


• Regional cooperation in aquatic animal health management;
• Dealing with emerging diseases and

• Domestication programs and disease emergence.

Discussion panels will be held after the sub-theme presentations to allow participants to interact with the presenters.

South Australia is proud to be hosting World Aquaculture for the first time in this continent since 1999. This annual event organized by the World Aquaculture Society incorporates the biennial Australasian Aquaculture Conference and Trade Show (theme ‘Create, Nurture, Grow’) in a joint arrangement with National Aquaculture Council. Registration is open at both websites.

 The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd.