Aquaculture is still the fastest growing food-producing sector in the world. The Asia and Pacific region has dominated global aquaculture production, both in quantity and value; the region contributed 65.2 million tonnes of aquatic animals, amounting to 88 percent of the global total in 2014. However, the rapid growth of this sector brings with it risks, which are compounded by the increasingly globalized trade in live aquatic animals and their products. Aquatic animal disease outbreaks continue to cause significant losses in aquaculture production throughout the world, adversely impacting the sustainability of aquaculture, and livelihoods of those involved sector.
In the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) Expert Consultation Meeting on Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis and Control held in November 2018 in Bangkok (Thailand), it was proposed to establish the Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter referred to as “the Framework”), which would initially focus on building a framework of actors to strengthen laboratory capacity for aquatic animal disease activities in Asia and the Pacific such as emergency responses to disease outbreaks. It also intended to contribute to improved information sharing among WOAH Reference Centres and Member Countries regarding aquatic animal health issues. This proposal was further discussed and endorsed by the Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania in its 31st Conference held in Sendai, Japan, in September 2019.
In the 3rd meeting of ad hoc steering committee of the Framework, the group: 1) reviewed implementation of the flagship activities; 2) shared challenges and gaps on aquatic animal health management in the region amongst WOAH designated experts and Members; 3) discussed and identify potential projects the Framework could address in 2022 onwards. The Group also agreed to rename the Framework, final decision will be made in early 2022.
