Disease-Watch - Welcome
Welcome to the monthly newsletter.
Awareness Kit
If you haven’t already, make sure that you order your copy of the comprehensive awareness kit for aquatic animal disease emergencies that has recently been developed. You can get it by filling out the following form. http://www.disease-watch.com/orderKit.htmThe kit covers the basics for field operators, businesses, government workers, vets, students and academics.
With over 80 minutes of video supported by extensive documentation with links to relevant web sites and ‘On Line’ resources, this kit is an important reference tool offering step-by-step processes for anyone in the aquaculture industry.
If you have already have a copy of the kit, please take the time to visit the accompanying Web Site http://www.disease-watch.com for updates, links to other web sites and further information.
For those with questions or comments that may be helpful to others involved in the Australian Aquaculture Industry, there is an ON LINE FORUM http://www.disease-watch.com/forum.asp (or discussion bulletin board) on the web site. Here you can leave messages for others, make comments or suggestions on various topics or ask questions that other members may be able to answer for you. This is your SPACE and we encourage you to use it on a regular basis.We’d love to get some feedback on the kit so visit the FORUM. We’d love to hear from you.
Sixth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA VI)The Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society holds a triennial Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture, (a meeting of members and aquatic animal health professionals), to discuss broad issues and specific topics related to aquatic animal health.
The Sixth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA VI) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 25 to 28 October 2005, with the theme of “Aquatic Animal Health: Facing New Challenges”.
The symposium covered a wide range of topics including technological advancements in aquatic animal health, biosecurity and risk assessments, and regional/international cooperation. The diversity of topics was also reflected in the significant number of poster presentations which included: distance online learning on health management in aquaculture as a format for capacity building; limiting impact of shrimp diseases through best management practices in Vietnam; development of immunoassays for epizootic ulcerative syndrome; and, the development of commercial diagnostic kits for white spot syndrome virus.
There were a large number of oral and poster presentations on the emergence and spread of koi herpes virus (KHV). While KHV is exotic to Australia, it is present in a number of countries within the region including Indonesia, Thailand and Japan (as well as being present in Europe and the USA). Presentations at the symposium ranged from genomic sequencing of the different KHV isolates to the development of diagnostic techniques for KHV (such as immunohistochemistry and nested polymerase chain reaction – or PCR) and successful oral vaccination against KHV using a liposome vaccine containing KHV antigens.
Of particular relevance/interest was the Keynote presentation entitled “Emergency preparedness and response experience – a moving target” provided an overview of emergency preparedness and contingency plans, and used several case studies (for example Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis in Canada and Infectious Salmon Anaemia on the Canada/USA border) to show the value of these plans. The session also stressed the importance of communication (both internal communication within government agencies, and also external communication to stakeholders and the media) in an emergency response.
Other keynotes presentations during the symposium were very topical, including: Veterinarians versus non-veterinarians in aquatic animal health management, International and regional cooperation: and New approaches to mollusc health management
In the 2004-05 Budget, the Australian Government provided $21.6 million over the next four years for the Securing the Future initiative - to better protect agricultural, fisheries, forestry and food industries from biosecurity threats such as pests, diseases and contaminants. Some of this funding will be available for building on the outcomes of the previous budget initiative “Building a National Approach to Animal and Plant Health” initiative that ran from 2000/01-2003/04. In addition, the funding will allow for the development of new projects in several areas of fish health. The funds are provided as “seed funding” to encourage States/Territories and industries to contribute towards a range of projects.In last month’s newsletter, we introduced the forthcoming strategic plan AQUAPLAN Australia’s National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health 2005-2010. This new budget initiative will direct funding towards some of the seven key strategies of AQUAPLAN:
- Enhanced integration and scope of aquatic animal health surveillance in Australia
- Harmonisation of approaches to aquatic animal health in Australia
- Establishment of an emergency animal disease response agreement for Australian aquaculture industries
- Education and training in the aquatic animal health sector
- Welfare standards for aquaculture
- Appropriate use of therapeutics for aquatic animal health management
- Aquatic animal health as part of ecologically sustainable development
Once AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 is endorsed by Primary Industries Standing Committee in their September 2004 meeting, specific projects within each key strategy will be able to commence and the additional funding will increase both the speed and the breadth of work accomplished.
1. Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference
The AVA Annual Conference is the only veterinary conference in Australia that brings all veterinarians together to share their experiences and update their expertise to remain at the leading edge in veterinary science and management across a range of disciplines and species.
Over the past few years the presence of aquatic animal health at the annual conferences has expanded. Interest and attendance at the aquatic animal health sessions has been increasing steadily, with over 100 people attending our talks last year.
Aquatic animal health specialists and veterinarians will be maintaining a continued presence at this years annual conference and continue to facilitate and expand aquatic animal health as a bona-fide component of main stream Veterinary practice.
The AVA Conference allows for practising veterinarians to expand their expertise across a range of areas and potentially increase their practice revenue. Aquatic animal medicine is an area experiencing growing interest from existing practitioners in the terrestrial field who are looking to diversify their skills and expand their practice, to captitalise on the growing trade in ornamental and other live aquatic organisms in Australia.
The Conference also provides non-practising veterinarians with the means to keep up to date with what’s happening in the profession and maintain their veterinary networks.
Veterinary undergraduate degrees across the country are continuing to expand their aquatic animal health courses. Students will find the conference of particular relevance, establishing important new contacts and networks.
The aquatic animal health stream has a full day of presentations on Thursday 25th May (see program attached).
Click on the link below to go to the AVA website for further information, to register on-line or download the Conference program.2. Australasian Aquaculture Conference 2006,
Earmarked as “one of the world’s largest aquaculture events in 2006, the Australasian Aquaculture 2006 international conference and trade show, is to be held 27-30 August 2006 in Adelaide, South Australia. It will be the second in a series of international conferences, meetings, events and trade shows to be held bienially near the major aquaculture producing regions of Australia.The theme for Australasian Aquaculture 2006 is “Innovation in Aquaculture”.
- Maintaining or increasing profit,
- entering new markets and
- obtaining skilled labour.
It will focus on the key issue that ‘all aspects’ of aquaculture require a level of innovation!
This years conference will bring over 1000 delegates from all over the world to share experience and innovations in aquaculture.
Among exciting new developments in the Asia Pacific to be presented include; innovative fish production techniques for salt-water affected areas, turning salinity, one of Australia’s biggest environmental problems, into profitable solutions, and new production systems such as the Semi Intensive Floatation Tanks System.The conference program also caters for a gala Seafood and Wine event, providing participants with the opportunity to sample the best Australian seafood produce.
Australasian Aquaculture 2006 will provide a forum for aquaculture farmers, processors, business operators, equipments suppliers, scientists, educators, students, consultants and government representatives to meet and discuss the latest advances and innovations in the industry.
This years conference will be hosted by the National Aquaculture Council of Australia (NAC), the World Aquaculture Society’s Asia-Pacific Chapter (WAS-APC) and the South Australian Aquaculture Council. It is sponsored by Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
For further details please go to the weblink below:
http://www.australian-aquacultureportal.com/
3. AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 Joint Stakeholder Workshop 4-5 April 2006Australia’s National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health : AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 has been in place for almost a year and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (AGDAFF) would like to invite you to the first AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 Stakeholder Workshop.
To be held in Melbourne from the 4-5th April 2006, this is the first of a series of annual joint industry/government workshops that will be conducted to help steer progress and prioritisation of AQUAPLAN projects over its five year term.
These workshops are your opportunity to ensure that AQUAPLAN addresses the issues of priority for your industry.
The Australian Government-Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is keen to have your input to the implementation and progress of AQUAPLAN from the perspective of your industry.
All those involved in aquaculture production, aquatic animal disease research and management, and the fisheries and wildlife sectors are encouraged to attend this workshop.
The success of a national strategy such as AQUAPLAN relies on the input of all of its stakeholders. So please come along to the workshop, have your say and make AQUAPLAN work for you.
Remember that copies of AQUAPLAN 2005- 2010 are available free of charge by contacting aah@daff.gov.au.
AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 can also be downloaded from http://www.daff.gov.au/aquaplan