Training prawn hatchery/farm staff in collecting samples was identified as a priority need in FRDC Project No. 2012/030 (Prawn Superpowers Summit – enhancing awareness of emergency aquatic animal disease response arrangements for the Australian prawn farming industry, Matt Landos and Helen Jenkins, March 2013).

Further consultation this year (2015) with the APFA, Industry members, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), the CSIRO Agriculture Flagship and the newly established Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Advanced Prawn Breeding coordinated by James Cook University (JCU) have reaffirmed the need for a hands-on training workshop. These parties have identified that such a workshop should cover a refresher on Emergency Response procedures including prawn sampling requirements and procedures as well as prawn sampling needs and procedures for prawn pedigree analysis and viral screening to fulfil the needs of breeding programs.

In recent years, demand for high quality seafood world-wide has increased significantly and continues to increase. This demand cannot be met by wild capture fisheries and has led to expansion of the world's aquaculture industries. In Australia, aquaculture is also growing. In the past 5 years the value of Australian aquaculture has doubled to approximately $700 million (ABARE 2001) and is expected to increase to $2.5 billion by 2010 (ACIL Consulting 1999). As the industry expands and intensifies the risk of infectious disease outbreaks also increases and there is a need for an increased level of expertise nation-wide on aquatic animal diseases.

As the range of aquaculture species expands so, too, will the range of diseases. Disease diagnosis and control will become an even higher priority than in the past. There will be a requirement to maintain and improve disease diagnostic capability. Increased diagnostic services will be required in these specialised areas, and training of personnel in aquatic animal pathology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology will be essential.

Currently, research on, and diagnosis of, aquatic animal diseases is undertaken with some limitations by State laboratories, private veterinary laboratories, universities, research institutes, and CSIRO divisions including AAHL Fish Diseases Laboratory (AFDL) at CSIRO Livestock Industries. It is essential to build on these resources to become better prepared for the anticipated growth in industry.

Training courses for diagnosticians and fish health specialists will be required to maintain Australia's proficiency to detect and diagnose aquatic animal diseases, and maintain the confidence of our trading partners. Due to increased world trade and travel, the threat of exotic disease is increasing. This project is aimed at providing information and training to aquatic animal health specialists to assist in recognition of exotic disease, and management of disease emergencies.

References
1. ABARE 2001. Australian Fisheries Statistics 2000, Canberra, ACT.
2. ACIL Consulting 1999. Aquaculture beyond 2000. Facilitator’s Report, prepared by Denis Hussey, Senior Associate, ACIL Consulting on a workshop, Changing Direction, held 23-24 August 1999, Canberra.