AQUACULTURE
GOVERNMENT
RECREATIONAL FISHING
RESEARCH
TRAINING

AQUACULTURE

Background

1. Aquaculture currently supplies one third of the total value of Australia's fisheries production.
2. Australia now earns over $2.4 billion from combined fisheries and aquaculture production and the market is growing each year.
   
3. More than 20 species of finfish, molluscs and crustaceans are being farmed in Australia, generating in excess of $700 million annually.
   
4. From the tropical north to the temperate south, more aquatic species are spending their lives - from egg to adult - in ponds on the land and in sea cages than ever before.
   

Disease Awareness and Control
Sustainable aquaculture in Australia is producing seafood of first-class quality offering a competitive advantage to supply overseas markets where it attracts a premium price.

The capacity of our Aquaculture Industry to contribute through exports earnings and 'job Creation' (especially in regional Australia) is a vital part of our future prosperity. A prosperity that can only be achieved by vigilantly protecting our clear competitive advantage as a 'Clean & Green' nation; keeping unwanted diseases out.
The threat of disease is real and must be addressed.

Compared to commercial agriculture that has developed over centuries; large-scale commercial aquaculture is little more than 30 years old. So while the future is looking bright for aquaculture, the industry is still to face many challenges, most notably, the threat of Disease.

New technologies, new breeds and newly domesticated species of fish offer great hope for the future, but only if they remain disease free!

In many cases little may be known of an agent, so if an emergency does occur, a control strategy may need to be developed very quickly using first principles and the available knowledge.

Aquatic animal disease emergencies occurring in open waterways will be difficult to manage due to the variety of animals, conditions, polluting sources and uses. If diseases and pests become established in an open system, they may only be controlled in a limited way. Eradication from the environment may not be an option.

Semi-open systems
Semi-open systems, generally used for culture of finfish, are typified by water-cage/net-pen systems in which the fish are contained or controlled in a relatively uncontrolled environment. Movement and control of stock is possible but there is no control over the movement of water in, through, and around the culture system.

Semi-open farming systems for molluscs usually have the shellfish either suspended in baskets from lines or housed in racks. Young shellfish may be harvested from the wild 'spat-fall' or cultured from brood stock in tanks in sophisticated hatcheries.

Semi-closed Systems
Semi-closed aquaculture systems are those in which species of finfish, Crustaceans or molluscs are contained so that the animals, water and other associated materials are not in direct contact with natural waterways. Water is usually taken from adjacent natural source and discharge water or effluent from the enterprise is released back into this same waterway. Release of this water may be a continuous or intermittent flow, which is introduced directly or indirectly into the waterway.

Closed system
The closed water system is typified by a system in which both the stock and the water are closely controlled usually in tanks with attached filtration systems.

Like all systems the health and survival of the stock within the closed system is highly dependent on water quality. In the closed system the water quality is controlled mainly by the health of a biological filtration system rather than water exchange.

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GOVERNMENT

1. Vets, government advisers, training Institutions, as well as recreational and sport fishers, who are ideally placed to spot and report sick or dead fish at a very early stage, all have a critical part to play in keeping the Australian Aquaculture Industry disease free.
2. Animal biosecurity is one of three operating groups within Biosecurity Australia. Its role, in consultation with industry and the community, is to protect Australia's animal health status and the natural environment by developing import requirements for live animals (including aquatic animals), their genetic material and products, and to improve market access opportunities by negotiating other countries' import requirements for Australian animals and animal genetic material.
3. Whilst Biosecurity Australia is developing policy for imports and market access, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service or AQIS is the body that establishes and operates the programs that turn this policy into reality.
4. AQIS maintains the quarantine barrier on imported animals and products and ensures that diseases do not enter Australia.
   

Disease Awareness and Control
In a disease outbreak situation, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer - also within the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - would cooperate with the Australian State and Territory governments and lead the national technical response to this outbreak. The OCVO also drives the preparation of disease emergency plans and training manuals and conducts training exercises for governments and industry.

The Australian State and Territory governments offer many and varied incentives for research and development within the aquaculture industry. Detailed information and assistance is available to existing commercial farmers as well as those entering this relatively new market place.

Governments need to cooperate to minimise the impacts of pests, diseases and contaminants on our aquaculture industry and contribute to the health and welfare of aquatic animals. This includes developing and implementing biosecurity policies to manage the risk of exotic pest and disease incursions and maintaining quarantine through appropriate border protection, but also swift and effective responses to disease emergencies that will occur no matter how well protected we are.

Together with the private sector, governments develop and update such emergency preparedness and response plans. Cooperation with industry is critical, to ensure the plans are adequate and can work in the case of an emergency. In order to test this, there are also training exercises, where a disease outbreak is simulated and the response plans are "road-tested".

The biggest single threat is complacency! When you grow animals, you have to realise that they may get sick. It's no different in the aquatic environment from farming cattle or sheep, poultry or pigs. However, in the aquatic environment, we have to be much more alert and prepared to respond quickly, because once a disease is in the water, it's very, very difficult to contain, much harder than an outbreak in a sheep paddock.

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RECREATIONAL FISHING

Background

1. Recreational fishing supports about 90,000 Australian jobs.
2. Two main industries are involved, the Australian fishing tackle and bait industry (with an annual turnover in excess of $170m), and the recreational boating industry, (with an annual turnover of around $500m of which 60% is related to fishing in one way or another).
3. Most of Australia's recreational fishing is undertaken along the coast and estuaries of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, reflecting both the excellent fishing areas and the geographic spread of Australia's population.
   Saltwater species are the main focus of recreational fishers, with Tailor, Bream, Whiting and Flathead being some of the more common and widespread species of saltwater fish caught.
4. Freshwater fishing is a significant activity away from the coastal areas, and Australia has some of the best trout streams in the world, thanks to the introduction of these species in most suitable streams during the nineteenth century.
5. In addition to introduced fish, Australia has a range of excellent tasting native inland fish such as Barramundi, Silver Perch and Golden Perch.
   Many fish are subject to daily bag limits, which restrict the number of fish legally able to be caught and retained in one day. In addition, some fishing areas are subject to seasonal closures, which are imposed by State fishing authorities to protect certain fish species during their breeding period.
6. Many State fishing authorities have introduced a requirement for all fishers to purchase fishing licences for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Income received through the licensing system will be used by State Governments to undertake important research aimed at ensuring a healthy and sustainable fish population in Australia's recreational fishing areas.
   

Disease Awareness & Control
Recreational and sport fishing is a pastime for 3 million Australians who spend $1,9 billion annually in pursuit of their fishing. Like aquaculture, the value of our recreational fisheries is enhanced by our freedom from many fish diseases that cause problems overseas.

Significant economic benefits from recreational fishing flow to many regional areas including jobs in the tourism, tackle, boating, and charter industries. Charter boats support game fishing, freshwater, estuarine and coastal fishing, skin-diving and snorkeling activities, and there is a diverse boat-hire and service industry.

Recreational and sport fishing is extremely important and valuable to Australian society and to the national economy. But fishing depends for its existence entirely on one natural resource - fish, so careful hygiene management and keen observation of fish stocks are imperative for this on going prosperity. The future of fishing and the quality of our fishing experience is determined by the way we look after or manage our aquatic and marine environments.

Recreational fishers remain a major 'front-line alert system' for general aquatic animal health and any exotic disease that may occur in Australian waters.
Recreational fishers should:

1. Use local bait at all times
   
2. Never transfer or release fish from one location to another
   
3. Report any unusual fish behaviour or sick fish to the State Department of Primary Industry or appropriate government fishing authority.
   
4. Clean all equipment (including boats, tackle, boots and clothing) after each excursion.
   

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RESEARCH

Background

1. Aquaculture is an industry that demands technically specialised conditions and a great deal of knowledge about the habits and life cycle of each fish species.
2. It can take years of research to domesticate a new species effectively.
3. Stocking densities, water quality, breeding conditions, animal behaviour, health and precise nutritional requirements all have to be addressed to successfully grow species such as Salmon, Bluefin Tuna, Oysters, Prawns Barramundi, Silver Perch and Abalone.
4. It is scientific and technical knowledge that is driving competitiveness in the industry, by improving fish health and nutrition, and by reducing stress and disease and encouraging the development and use of vaccines.
5. Developments in aquaculture have seen companies breeding fish to improve traits such as their growth rate, conversion of feed into flesh, resistance to disease, tolerance of cold and poor water, and fertility.
6. Our relatively disease-free aquaculture industry is a market advantage afforded to Australia that both farmers and the government are striving to maintain.
7. Aquaculture workers and the people who routinely visit aquaculture sites all have a part to play.
8. Vets, government advisers, training Institutions, as well as recreational and sport fishers, who are ideally placed to spot and report sick or dead fish at a very early stage, all have a critical part to play in keeping the Australian Aquaculture Industry disease free.

Disease Awareness and Control
In order for aquatic animals to thrive and provide a good return on the farmer's investment, they need to be nurtured by providing them with a healthy environment - good quality water, a healthy diet with good quality ingredients delivered in a non-wasteful manner and, as far as possible, reduced exposure to disease causing agents.

The biggest single threat is complacency! When animals are grown, they may get sick! It's no different in the aquatic environment from farming cattle or sheep, poultry or pigs. However, in the aquatic environment, we have to be much more alert and prepared to respond quickly, because once a disease is in the water, it's very, very difficult to contain, much harder than an outbreak in a sheep paddock.

Research can provide the tools to monitor farming operations.

The farmer should monitor water quality parameters and, importantly, keep good records.

Likewise the farmer should monitor feed consumption - like people, sick animals will lose their appetite and become lethargic.

Regular checking of water conditions, feed consumption, external appearance and behaviour of the farmed species including weight gain will provide a good indication whether the animal is well or "off-colour".

Any change in the environment that causes stress to the animals will increase their susceptibility to infection and disease.

Good sanitary practices - control of movements on and off the farm and between production units within the farm, including disinfection of personnel and equipment - will help to reduce exposure to infectious agents.

However, even with all these precautions in place disease can hit at any time.

Any abnormal appearance or behaviour in the farmed animals should be viewed with suspicion and investigated.

The earlier the intervention the better the control - should it turn out to be infectious disease.

Contact your local aquatic animal health specialist, either a veterinarian experienced in aquatic animal health or the State diagnostic laboratory for advice.

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TRAINING

Background

Training Institutions play a key role in keeping the Australian Aquaculture Industry disease free.

While Australian focussed initiatives are constantly being examined, we can draw valuable lessons from overseas experiences.

Disease Awareness and Control
Fortunately, Australia has a long-history in disease detection and management for livestock.
Many of the technologies developed to deal with disease problems on the land are now being applied to aquaculture.
The aim is to rapidly identify any new disease problem and have the tools and strategies ready to combat the disease.
It's vital for Australia to maintain its 'disease free status' and initiatives
ranging from border controls and import certification through to enhanced Veterinary education and improved capacity to manage incursions of exotic diseases are being put in place throughout the country at both State and Territory and National levels.

This integrated and planned approach on aquatic animal health builds on the efforts of both industry and government to date and ensures profitable and sustainable development of Australia's fisheries and aquaculture industries.

However, there is however much work to do and the continued involvement and training of all parties across all interest groups is essential.

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