Vaccination for emergency and long-term control of nodavirus in Australian marine aquaculture
The grouper industry is new but growing in Australia with recent new private sector investment in the hatchery in Cairns. However, all current grow out is affected by nodavirus outbreaks which have been both acute and severe. Without a solution the industry will not be able to continue. Fortunately, nodavirus is preventable by vaccination and there is local capacity to produce. Whilst there is currently insufficient demand to allow a fully privately financed vaccine initiative, with an emergency vaccine put in place and a registration data pack established, the industry is predicted to grow to a point where vaccine production by the private sector will become self-sustaining. This project will deliver an emergency vaccine to assist farmers through 2018/2019 grow out. It will build capability in vaccination of grouper in the industry. Most importantly it will provide the efficacy data, optimisation and formulation data with documentation appropriate for future licensing of a vaccine for use in Australia.