Aquaculture remains the world’s fastest-growing food production sector. However, as production intensifies, diseases and antimicrobial misuse can occur. Prevention of disease (including diseases affecting finfish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants) through sound management and innovation are key steps to ensuring that aquaculture continues to provide high-quality, costeffective products in a sustainable manner. Examples of innovative biosecurity approaches involve maintaining a good farming environment within the culture system, minimizing the presence of disease-causing organisms, and optimizing the general health and resistance of aquatic organisms to disease.
This virtual dialogue is jointly organized by FAO’s Partnerships Division and Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division and the Mississippi State University (MSU) together with global experts on aquaculture biosecurity. FAO and MSU have cooperated since 2010, through various mechanisms to enhance management and develop capacities in areas of animal and veterinary public health, plant health, fish health, food safety and nutrition programmes. Indeed, in 2018 MSU was selected to be a Candidate FAO Reference Center on Aquaculture Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Resistance.
The objective of the side event is to raise awareness among participants on innovative approaches and opportunities in managing biosecurity challenges facing aquaculture. These approaches are presented as experiences, case studies and presentations from leading experts, and include development of domesticated or improved farmed types, specific pathogen free broodstock and seed for aquaculture, and microbial management protocols to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Good Aquaculture Practices will be highlighted through examples including the Progressive Management Pathway for improving Aquaculture Biosecurity, country/regional experiences in developing national strategies on aquatic animal health, and vaccines as alternatives to antimicrobials.