Despite its healthy growth, the aquaculture industry in Southeast Asia still faces problems with diseases which can affect its sustainability. Infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites are continuing threats to consistent industry growth. With increasing intensification, the incidence of diseases is also expected to increase proportionately. What happened to the shrimp industry particularly in the culture of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, in the different countries in Southeast Asian region is already well known.

The importance of containing the threat of diseases in aquaculture is a matter of global concern especially with increased trade and increased transboundary movements of goods which include live fish and other aquatic organisms. Due to this concern, the "Asia Regional Technical Guidelines on Health Management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals and the Beijing Consensus and Implementation Strategy" and "Manual of Procedures for the Implementation of the Asia Regional Technical Guidelines on Health Management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals" (FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 402 and 402/1, 2001, Rome) were developed and adopted. Implementation of these guidelines is important to minimize the risk of diseases in aquaculture production.

When the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New Millennium, "Fish for the People", was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-24 November 2001, the Technical Panel Session identified four items as important issues for "healthy and wholesome aquaculture":

1. Technology support for the diagnosis and control of diseases (diagnosis of diseases, and alternative chemicals or products for disease control);
2. Control of spread of important pathogens (disease registry and reporting system, and quarantine systems);
3. Public health and the environment (environmental and human health impact by chemicals used for disease control, impact of chemicals from non-aquaculture origin, impact of disease on human health and the environment, and impact of toxic algae to aquaculture products and consumers); and
4. Training and information dissemination (training for disease recognition and diagnosis).

The ASEAN-SEAFDEC Millennium Resolution/Plan also includes two items as fish health issues for aquaculture in the region: (1) reduction of the risks of negative environmental impacts, loss of biodiversity, and disease transfer by regulating the introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms in accordance with the Regional Guidelines on the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals and Plants; and (2) improvement of capabilities in the diagnosis and control of fish diseases within the region by developing technology and techniques for disease identification, reliable field-site diagnostic and harmonized diagnostic procedures, and establishing regional and international referral systems, including designation of reference laboratories and timely access to disease control experts within the region.
 


OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL FISH DISEASE PROJECT 

Since the year 2000, the "Regional Fish Disease Project" has been implemented at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department to address various regional fish disease problems and food safety issues with the support of the Government of Japan (GOJ) Trust Fund. The first phase of the project entitled "Development of Fish Disease Inspection Methodologies for Artificially-Bred Seeds" started in March 2000 and ended in March 2005. It was initially planned to end in March 2004 but was extended to March 2005 because of the urgent need to study an emerging viral disease of common carp and koi (Cyprinus carpio)(=koi herpesvirus [KHV] disease) which occurred in Indonesia and Taiwan in 2002 and Japan in 2003. 

The project was conducted as one of collaborative projects of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group (FCG).

The Regional Fish Disease Project supported by the GOJ Trust Fund aims to: 

1. Enhance disease diagnosis and health management of aquatic animals in aquaculture in Southeast Asia;
2. Promote the healthy and wholesome trading of aquaculture products in the region; and
3. Develop a fish disease surveillance network in the region.

To achieve these objectives, the project conducted the following activities during 2000-2004:

1. Research to (1) develop standardized diagnostic methods for major diseases affecting economically important aquaculture species in the region; (2) develop effective prevention and control measures against microbial and parasitic diseases; (3) assess the pathogenesis of newly emerging diseases; and (4) develop monitoring methods for residual chemicals in aquaculture products.
    
2. Hands-on training to develop capability in aquatic animal health diagnosis and management of technical staff working at research centers and institutions in the region.
    
3. International meetings to (1) discuss the status of fish disease problems, available diagnostic methods, and prevention and control measures employed in the region; (2) discuss the results of research studies conducted under the project and those generated in other regions; (3) identify and discuss aquatic animal disease issues to be solved for further sustainable aquaculture growth; and (4) discuss collaboration with other international organizations such as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE).
    
4. Extension to disseminate research results and technology generated by the project through (1) training courses on fish diagnosis and health management; (2) production of proceedings, manuals, reports, flyers and others; (3) publications of scientific papers and review articles in international journals; and (4) presentation of research results at international meetings.