The ornamental fish industry in Australia, valued at over $200 million (FRDC 2007) is comprised of more than 200 licensed fish breeders, collectors and importers who through a network of wholesalers supply over 2000 pet shops and specialist aquarium outlets distrubuted around the country.

The majority of fish traded within Australia are sourced from imports (around 15 million fish annually), which comprises mostly freshwater finfish, while local production from breeding varies between 5-10 million per annum.

Like all animals, aquarium fish can carry and transmit disease. This includes parasites, bacteria and viruses. These 'diseases' could seriously affect the growth of the ornamental industry in Australia and therefore gaining a better understanding in terms of identification, treatment and management is impecable to allow this industry to flourish.

The project will identify existing and emerging Ornamental Fish Diseases as well as discuss the methodology for diagnosis and treatment of parasitic, bacterial, viral, as well as nutritional, and environmental diseases of warmwater food fish and aquarium species.

Australia periodically experiences outbreaks of new or unusual diseases in both farmed and wild species. Recent examples include oyster herpes virus in New South Wales and Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis in Victoria and Tasmania. Proper epidemiological investigation early in such outbreaks can assist greatly in identifying source and risk-factors for infection and can often provide clues for future control. Such an investigation goes beyond the identification and characterisation of the causal agent and is an essential part of the response to any disease outbreak or incursion.

However, specific training in epidemiology and the principles of epidemiological investigation has not been routinely provided to aquatic animal health professionals in the past. This project aims to address this situation by providing introductory training in epidemiological principles and disease outbreak investigation for up to 25 aquatic animal health professionals, and provide resources for future training activities.

This project aligns closely with the Biosecurity and Aquatic Animal Health theme of the FRDC RD&E plan, directly through developing the necessary skills to prevent and manage disease incursions and indirectly through improved knowledge and understanding of biosecurity measures required to mitigate and control disease in cultured and wild aquatic populations.

Aquaculture health and biosecurity are complex multidisciplinary areas that require specialized human resource development (van Beek 1997). There is a wealth of lessons to be learnt from more established aquaculture industries. As each industry is unique in fish species farmed and local environmental issues, there is a need to process information into a practical biosecurity plan.

The Western Australian aquaculture industry is regionalized, with large distances between centres of activity. Ready access to veterinarians with expertise in fish and shellfish is rare, often resulting in heavy losses. There is a need to
increase/consolidate knowledge amongst fish farm managers & operational staff in aquaculture health. Involving local veterinarians will improve access to fish health services. The workshops will create greater networking allowing fish farm managers and their local veterinarians the small pool of veterinarians within Fisheries and Universities with experience in fish and shellfish health

The above need is consistent with WA industry's RDE priorities, FRDC's environmental program theme 1