90th General Session

Collaborative Framework for Aquatic Animal Health

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Highlights for Asia and the Pacific at the 90th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates: The Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific

23 May 2023 (France) At the 90th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific (RRAP), represented by Dr Hirofumi Kugita, participated in the “Regional Activities Highlight” session of the programme on 23 May 2023, presenting “The Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific.”

Dr Kugita presenting at the Regional Highlights of the 90th General Session of WOAH World Assembly of Delegates.

The fastest-growing food producing sector in the world

Dr Kugita began by showing that aquaculture – the rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food – is the fastest-growing food-producing sector in the world, with the Asia and Pacific region dominating the practice, accounting for about 90% of global total production. Dr Kugita explained that with this rapid growth has come significant risks, compounded by increasingly globalised trade in live aquatic animals and their products.

He pointed out that aquatic animal disease outbreaks continue to cause significant losses in aquaculture production throughout the world, adversely impacting the sustainability of aquaculture and the livelihood of stakeholders in related sectors. Outbreaks include emerging diseases such as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and tilapia lake virus (TiLV), which respectively cause high mortality in shrimp and tilapia. Dr Kugita added that resources to deal with such emerging diseases are limited in the region.

Aquatic animal disease outbreaks

continue to cause significant losses in aquaculture production throughout the world, adversely impacting the sustainability of aquaculture and the livelihood of stakeholders in related sectors.

Dr Kugita summarizing activities supporting aquatic animal health in the Asia Pacific, at the Regional Highlights of the 90th General Session of WOAH World Assembly of Delegates.

A challenge: low disease reporting

One of the presentation’s key points is that the region also faces another challenge: low disease reporting for aquatic animals. Other challenges also identified by experts include the need for proficiency testing, test validation, and emergency response mechanisms.  To deal with these challenges, WOAH and collaborating organisations proposed the establishment of a regional network.

This idea was endorsed by the Regional Commission for the Far East, Asia and Oceania at its conference in September 2018 in Sendai, Japan, and subsequently, the “Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal health for Asia and the Pacific” was formed.

The Framework’s aim is to strengthen laboratory capacity in the region. Objectives include:

  • Strengthening collaboration among WOAH Reference Centres and Members, and international organisations.
  • Sharing and exchanging information on test validation, reference materials, and positive samples.

Participants in the Framework include WOAH Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in the region (e.g., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia, National Cheng Kung University in Chinese Taipei, and the National Institute of Fisheries Sciences or NIFS in the Republic of Korea), members of the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Standard Commission, National Focal Points for Aquatic Animal Health, and international partners (e.g. , NACA, SEAFDEC, and FAO). Other partners such as universities, research institutions, private sector actors, and donors could also be invited to participate depending on their interests and expertise.

Activities of the Framework chiefly involve:

  • Aquaculture biosecurity for small-scale farms in the region
  • Evaluation of existing test methods for APHND
  • Developing methods for utilizing WOAH scientific networks for emerging disease response
  • Knowledge sharing, including formation of an information-sharing platform on aquatic animal health, the organisation of webinars for the region to support activities identified in the Aquatic Animal Health Strategy
  • Improving transparency and reporting of aquatic health information and strengthening aquatic animal health services through the WOAH flagship programme, the PVS Pathway

The Framework’s aim

is to strengthen laboratory capacity in the region. Objectives include strengthening collaboration among WOAH Reference Centres, Members, and international organisations, and sharing information on test validation, reference materials, and positive samples.

Dr Kugita concluded by mentioning that in support of the Framework’s goals, WOAH RRAP is planning a regional training workshop for WOAH National Focal Points for Aquatic Animal Health in June, hosted in Korea (Republic of). He also highlighted that development of the Framework in the region had a positive effect on other regions globally, listing other networks’ formation. These include:

  • The Aquatic Middle East Network (AQMENET), launched in November 2022
  • The Regional Aquatic Animal Health Network in North Africa, launched in April 2023
  • Two additional networks (Southern Africa and a laboratory network) planned for launch in the African region in July and December 2023, respectively.
  • Plans to launch networks in the Americas and Europe.

Further details, along with activities, members, and further next steps, can be found via the website: Collaboration on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific

Dr Kugita completing remarks at the Regional Highlights of the 90th General Session of WOAH World Assembly of Delegates.

More information

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Info sharing on aquatic animal health

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Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health

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Terrestrial & aquatic animal health

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Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission

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PVS Pathway

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