Biosecurity in aquaculture

1. Workshop for OIE National Focal Points for Aquatic Animals,Byblos, Lebanon, 11–13 August 2013 Biosecurity in aquaculture Edgar Brun OIE Collaborating Centre on Epidemiology and Risk Assessment for Aquatic Animal Diseases Atlantic Veterinary College

2. Biosecurity • A holistic concept for the sustainability of aquaculture (food production) • Aims to protect environment including biological diversity • Based on regulations and standards to be applied at international-, national- and site level

3. Biosecurity Every action involved in • avoiding entry of pathogens (prevention/exclusion) • Into a country • into a farm • controlling further spread of pathogens (containment) • reducing consequences of outbreaks (eradication)

4. Cultured aquatic animals • are traded world wide as eggs, live animals and products • are kept in open or semi-open systems • are part of the local ecological system • are continuously exposed to environmental micro-organisms (and visa versa) • are more “stressed” than surrounding fellow animals in the wild

5. Three levels within biosecurity • National/international level – governmental responsibility • Regional level – shared/industry responsibility • Site level – company/private responsibility

6. International/national level • International standards (OIE, WTO, Codex) • National legal framework • Management policy (hazards, surveillance, stamping out, compensation …) • Authority for implementing control measures at national, regional and site level • Infrastructure • Lines of command • Laboratories • Reporting system • Information system • Competence building

7. Regional level • Epidemiological unit • How is the connection between farms • Can groups of farms be organized into zones • Regional collaboration • Interaction between big intensive companies and small (semi-) extensive private enterprises • Can coordinated measures be implmented at the same time

8. Example; development of PD in Norway

9. PD- distribution in Norway 2008-2010 Hustadvika

10. Biosecurity measures to an emerging disease (ISA) ISAV identified Official guidelines for the handling of outbreaks First occurrence of ISA Contingency plan, revidert Introduction of zones to combat outbreaks ISA made notifiable Regulation on disinfection of wastewater from slaughterhouses and processing plants, and of the seawater supply in hatcheries Compulsory health certificate Compulsory health control in hatcheries Ban on using seawater in hatcheries Ban on moving fish already put to sea Regulations on transport (vehicles and hygienic measures) The ”Stop ISA campaign”

11. Biosecurity at site level abiotic Wild aquatic animals Environment biotic abiotic biotic biotic Farmed aquatic animals Import/trade

12. Biosecurity at site level Described in a BIOSECURITY PLAN • Based on a biosecurity risk assessment • SOPs for various tasks/procedures • Routine health/disease monitoring • Contingency plans • Should be generic • The plan should be understood and respected by all employees (biosecurity awareness) • Routines for auditing and updating

13. Biosecurity assessment at site • Risk characterization of the facility • Pathogen exposure • Risk characterization of management • Identification of critical points

14. Risk characterization of the facility • Location and physical lay-out • Internal production flow • Separation into sub-units

15. Pathogen exposure • Which infectious hazards are threatening the plant, their epidemiology and control measures • routes of introduction and spread • What do we know about the infectious agents • What do we know about the disease • Does the farm have susceptible species • Available diagnostic test • Available vaccines

16. Introduction routes Oidtman et al 2011

17. Disease transmission in fish • Direct contact between fish • Vertical or horizontal • Entry through skin, open wounds, gills • Ingestion (oral) • Infected live or frozen fish • Cannibalism of deador dying fish • Contaminated feed • Water Sources • Inputs, transfer • Including aerosols • Spray or splashesbetween tanks Dr. Alain Le breton

18. Disease transmission in fish • Fomites: Inanimate objects • Equipment: Nets, buckets, siphon hoses • Footwear, clothing, vehicles • Vectors: Living creatures • Predatory birds, wildlife • Pets • People • Zoonotic: affects people • Bacterial agents • Mycobacterium • Edwardsiella • Erysipelothrix • Klebsiella • Parasitic agents • Anisakis Dr. Alain Le breton

19. Risk characterization of management • Operations and routines • Routines for disease control • Handling of diseased fish • Awareness for early disease detection • Data registration • Clear responsibility • Traffic control • Disinfection • Competence • Biosecurity awareness • Knowledge of basic hygiene principles • Basic knowledge of diseases

20. Risk based characterization of a farm – control of fish movement Dr. Alain Le breton

21. Production function Production process Resource input (animals, feed, labour, etc.) Output: goods, services (to satisfy human needs) Biosecurity Diseases • Diseases will reduce the efficiency by which input are converted into output • Biosecurity • will reduce the probability of infectious exposure (known and unknown) and curtail its effect (holistic) • is additional input to the production function • may increase output or lower the need for input • should be balanced between benefit and cost

22. Core issues to • Balance knowledge on hazards, technical feasibility and cost • Tailor the biosecurity plan according to the specific needs on each individual farm

23. Biosecurity … everybody will sooner or later face the challenge of a disease outbreak …is an act of responsibility to the farmed animals to the environment to fellow producers to society THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION