There is an existing National Policy for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Organisms. published by the Ministerial Council of Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (1999). This provides the policy basis for translocation within Australia. Industry concern about the practical processes for achieving translocation approval lead to the funding of FRDC 2002/080. In addition, recent concern among jurisdictions over VER outbreaks has emphasised the need to develop technical guidelines to underpin testing, as well as policy guidelines, for finfish.