A Standardized Approach for Meeting National and International Aquaculture Biosecurity Requirements for Preventing, Controlling, and Eradicating Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Developing effective, practical, and economically viable approaches to prevent, control, and potentially eradicate infectious and contagious diseases in aquaculture operations has eluded those involved in farmed aquatic animals for some time. However, an approach for meeting these objectives using sound scientific veterinary principles outlined in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and elsewhere offers a solution that should meet the needs of producers and governmental regulatory agencies. Developed over a number of years with input from a wide variety of collaborators from around the world, the approach focuses on applying several important core OIE processes targeted at determining and maintaining disease freedom on any epidemiological unit (EpiUnit)—from an individual farm to a whole country. These include: identifying and assessing the risk and prioritizing hazardous diseases important to a clearly defined EpiUnit; identifying and correcting critical points where these diseases might enter or leave the EpiUnit; developing contingency plans should a disease be discovered in the EpiUnit through disease surveillance and monitoring; periodic auditing of the EpiUnit biosecurity programs and records; and, as necessary, certifying the absence of these diseases in the EpiUnit with governmental agency oversight and endorsement.