Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Strategic planning, project management and adoption
Australia's fisheries and aquaculture are the fastest growing sectors of our primary industries in terms of both job creation and average growth in production, currently running at 13% growth p.a.. Australia’s aquatic animal sector is free from many diseases that occur elsewhere in the world, providing us with a comparative advantage in both production and trade.
The FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram, established in 2001, provides a cohesive and national approach to aquatic animal health research and development (R&D) in Australia. In October 2002, the Subprogram developed and launched the “AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH SUBPROGRAM Strategic Plan 2002-2007” to guide the Subprogram to fulfill its objectives to provide leadership, direction and focus for aquatic animal health R&D and other related non-R&D activities. Stakeholder comments show that a key strength of the Subprogram is its strategic focus and the establishment of a network of aquatic animal health experts and research providers. Further, the Subprogram has provided an industry-based structure through which to develop and maintain strategic direction for investment in aquatic animal health. The Subprogram was set up for a three-year period which comes to an end on 30 June 2004. In order to continue the momentum established through the Subprogram, a renewal of the Subprogram on the basis of a shared financial commitment by stakeholders from industry and governments is highly desirable. Such a subprogram would support and complement R&D plans and strategies, such as AQUAPLAN, of other FRDC Subprograms and Aquafin CRC.
The Subprogram will continue to manage a portfolio of projects that are directly concerned with aquatic animal health and are not covered by other FRDC subprograms. All projects will be developed following stakeholder consultation and progress will be monitored and managed by the subprogram including input from a Steering Committee assisted by a Scientific Advisory Committee (see attachment).
Final report
Aquatic Animal Health Technical Forum and Training workshops
There is a need to continue the workshops as they provide a forum for representatives from research institutes, Government departments and industry to discuss current aquatic animal health issues facing Australia in a friendly and collaborative setting that encourages open and frank interactions leading to improved mutual understanding of issues facing the different sectors. Workshops have been well supported and have included participants from Government and private laboratories and the aquaculture industry. Industry participants have been from a diversity of farms and representative of a wide variety of aquaculture species. The participant numbers have increased at each workshop from 17 to 35- ideally the maximum group size of 35. This maximum number allows the workshop to be conducted at various locations, as it is not too large a group for host facilities to accommodate.
Previous workshops have led to the exchange of information and methods. This has provided ongoing contacts established at the workshops, for participants to discuss issues, and in turn, respond more effectively to disease outbreaks. With aquaculture facilities and the species farmed continuing to expand in Australia, transferring these vital skills and knowledge to a new generation of researches and those involved in aquatic animal health, will be of benefit to both the aquatic animal health sector and industries.
Due to budgetary constraints in both Government and industry sectors, funding is required to assist workshop participants with travel expenses to attend the workshops. Without partial travel subsidy many forum participants would not obtain authorization to participate. This has repeatedly been raised in feedback and would affect attendance.
The exchange of information and pathways for new people involved in aquatic animal health will be lost and need to be re-established if the workshops fail to continue on an annual basis.
Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity Subprogram: Strategic planning, project management and adoption
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