Practicing aquatic animal welfare: Identifying and mitigating obstacles to uptake and adoption by the Australian Fishing Industry
Raise awareness of the guidelines developed by the AAWWG (Aquatic Animal Welfare Working Group) with industry and review their adoption, uptake rates and utility
National aquatic animal health strategic planning
A review of AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 has been undertaken by the Subcommittee of Aquatic Animal Health following extensive consultation with industry and governments. The review is currently under consideration through Standing Council on Primary Industries (SCOPI) committee processes. Pending endorsement of the review document, it will be professionally edited, published and form the basis of discussions for developing a successor strategy.
Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity Subprogram: Strategic planning, project management and adoption
AAHBS provides a cohesive national approach to FRDC-supported aquatic animal health R&D in Australia by providing leadership, direction and focus for health R&D and other related non-R&D activities. AAHS was renewed in 2012 based on national need, previous performance and strong stakeholder support. Key strengths include its strategic focus and the establishment of a network of aquatic animal health experts and research providers. An external review of AAHS was undertaken in 2015 and it found that the consensus among the major stakeholders was that AAHS provides an essential service for the major stakeholders. Thus, continuation of AAHS beyond 2016 on the basis of a shared financial commitment by stakeholders from industry and governments is highly desirable.
Australia’s aquatic animal sector is free from many diseases that occur overseas, providing us with a competitive advantage in both production and trade. While the number of aquatic animal species and the absolute number of aquatic animals being farmed in Australia is increasing annually, new diseases caused by emerging infectious agents (e.g. new yellow head virus genotypes, oyster oedema disease, ostreid herpesvirus, Bonamia exitiosa) continue to threaten the sustainability of significant enterprises, and the call on health services to support this expanding industry is growing.
In addition to aquaculture, aquatic animal health R&D is required for the other aquatic animal sectors, including wild-capture (c.f. Edwardsiella ictaluri in catfish), recreational (c.f. Perkinsus in oysters) and ornamental (c.f. gourami iridovirus), that share the aquatic environment. Thus health services need to be coordinated across all aquatic sectors to ensure synergy while avoiding duplication. FRDC, through AAHBS, plays a major role in addressing research needs and training in aquatic animal health. With its incumbent expertise and experience, AAHBS is able to direct these activities in the most pressing areas.
Report
In the period 2016-20, AAHBS has managed 27 projects concerned with aquatic animal health and biosecurity. AAHBS also provided advice on other aquatic animal health- and biosecurity-related projects that were part of other FRDC programs. In addition, AAHBS has a specific role in managing the DAWE/FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Training Scheme. AAHBS also provided comment, as requested, on health-related projects submitted to industry peak bodies.
AAHBS reviewed, in-house, the Subprogram R&D Plan on an annual basis which included consultation with major stakeholders (industry and governments). The revisions accounted for the changing aquatic animal health and biosecurity R&D needs at the enterprise, industry sector, and state and national levels.
During the period 2016-2020, there were seven issues of the Subprogram newsletter, Health Highlights, which has a broad distribution list (>300 subscribers) that includes industry associations, research providers and regulators both domestically and internationally. In addition, AAHBS provided support for the 2017 White Spot Disease R&D Needs Workshop and 2017 Pinctada maxima Pearl Oyster Health Workshop. Two FRDC Australasian Scientific Conferences on Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity were convened in Cairns (in 2017 and 2019). The Cairns conference provides a unique opportunity for regulators, researchers and industry to meet and discuss the latest research results and current issues relating to aquatic animal health and biosecurity. Workshop and conference proceedings were distributed electronically to participants.
Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity Coordination Program: strategic planning, project management and adoption
Australia’s aquatic animals are free from many diseases that occur overseas, providing us with a competitive advantage in both production and trade. Australian aquaculture has grown from an industry valued at AU$260 million in 1993 to an industry valued at AU$1.6 billion in 2020 (ABARES, 2021). This dramatic growth has been accompanied by the emergence of new diseases/infectious agents, e.g., NNV since 1989, Bonamia since 1992, OOD since 2006, OsHV since 2010, POMV since 2012, new YHV genotypes since 2013, PMMS since 2015 and WSD since 2016, all of which threaten the sustainability of major aquaculture enterprises. Consequently, the need for health research to support this expanding sector is also growing. The wild-harvest, recreational, Indigenous and ornamental sectors are also under threat; e.g., crayfish plague, Edwardsiella ictaluri in catfish, Perkinsus in oysters, WSD in crustacea and gourami iridovirus in a range of finfish species pose significant risks.
Thus, identification and prioritisation of aquatic animal health and biosecurity research and capacity building needs to be coordinated across all aquatic sectors to ensure synergy while avoiding duplication. FRDC, through AAHBRCP, plays a major role in addressing research needs and training in aquatic animal health and biosecurity and is able to direct funding priorities to the most pressing areas. AAHBRCP provides a cohesive national approach to FRDC-supported R&D by providing leadership, direction and focus for health R&D and other related non-R&D activities. According to an external review of AAHBRCP undertaken in 2015 the consensus among major stakeholders was that AAHBRCP provides an essential service for the aquatic animal sector. Given the success of the AAHBRCP there is a need to continue it as a means of providing the service with consideration given to adjustments (reflected in this proposal) to enhance the service it provides for the evolving needs of Australia’s seafood industry, public policy and program needs