Biosecurity in Mediterranean Marine Fish Farming

1. Introduction
Transboundary aquatic animal diseases are highly contagious and the transmissible agents have the potential to spread them very rapidly irrespective of national borders, with serious socio-economic and possible health consequences. The great value of aquaculture to contribute to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation has been recognized by FAO but is hampered by significant biosecurity and animal disease challenges. Addressing biosecurity challenges in aquaculture requires a holistic and transdisciplinary approach that takes into consideration all the essential components (technical, communication, infrastructure, operations, etc.) of an aquaculture biosecurity programme. These programme components cannot stand alone as they are interrelated and interconnected. Due to the different production structures in aquaculture, either in a closed or open environment, epidemiological units must be considered at the farm level but also regional, national and international levels. International organizations such as WTO/OIE/FAO have set up international agreements or guidelines. Recently FAO launched the Progressive Management Pathway for Aquaculture Biosecurity (PMP-AB). At European level, the 2006/88 CE Directive addresses the application of biosecurity in aquaculture businesses. In Mediterranean countries with a developed aquaculture sector, national legislations are also considering biosecurity. Unfortunately, most of the time no regional planning for biosecurity is considered which is a weakness in aquaculture.Continue reading

Health forum discussion on Biosecurity in Mediterranean marine fish farming

Dates: 4 – 18 May 2020
Forum coordinator: Dr. Snježana Zrnčić, HVI, Croatia.
Discussion moderators:
Dr. Nadia Chérif, INSTM, Tunisia
Dr. Alain le Breton, VET’ EAU, France

Transboundary aquatic animal diseases are highly contagious, and the transmissible agents are potential for very rapid spread irrespective of national borders causing serious socio-economic and possible health consequences. The great value of aquaculture to contribute to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation has been hampered by significant biosecurity and animal disease challenges. Addressing biosecurity challenges in aquaculture requires a holistic approach that takes into consideration all essential components (technical, communication, infrastructure, operations, etc.) of an aquaculture biosecurity program. All of these program components cannot stand-alone, they are interrelated and interconnected. Subsequently, health maintenance in aquaculture is now considered to be one of the most important aspects of aquaculture development and management.Continue reading

MedAID obituary – Prof. Dr Mohamed A. Essa

Prof. Dr Mohamed A. Essa, as Egyptian aquaculture expert was working in fish breeding and production, and sustainability research worldwide. He was a leading expert in aquaculture system design and piloting. His career history was a long series of successful management of large projects: programming, budgeting, planning, supervision and monitoring of implementation, coordination and control of outside consulting experts and suppliers of specific equipment, elaboration of process schedules and execution rules and check-lists, recruitment, training and management of personnel. Prof. Essa was strong international working relationships with many of the scientists and researchers in the field of aquaculture in Spain, Scotland, Hungary and, United States. Prof. Dr Mohamed A. Essa, was leads more than 230 researchers as a head of the aquaculture division, NIOF, during the period 2007 to 2011 and was considerable expert in the Developing tools for sustainable aquaculture in Egypt.