ESD Reporting and Assessment Subprogram: strategic planning, project management and adoption
Compliance program evaluation and optimisation in commercial and recreational Western Australian fisheries
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: development of a national translocation policy using abalone and prawns as templates for other aquatic species
Aquaculture Diet Development Subprogram: development of marine fish larval diets to replace Artemia
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: enhancing the emergency disease response capability of Department of Fisheries and industry bodies associated with non-maxima oyster culture
Final report
A two day disease emergency response workshop was held at Geraldton, Western Australia, in October 2002. The objective of the exercise was to test the industry and government response to a disease emergency among non-maxima pearl farms at the Abrolhos Islands. The exercise was coordinated by staff from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia and involved regional and head office staff from the Western Australian Departments of Fisheries and Agriculture as well as industry representatives. During the two day exercise the participants worked through emergency scenarios as well as having to respond to unexpected obstacles proposed by the exercise coordinators.
The outcome of the exercise was the education of the participants in the operational procedures involved in a disease emergency response at the State level, an evaluation of the response with suggestions for improvements in emergency management planning, the documentation of an emergency management plan and input into the new Environmental Code of Practice for the industry.