WP5
SPC/FAO Joint Paper
on work in progress towards Regional
Aquatic Biosecurity Strategy
development
Robert Jimmy
Aquaculture Adviser
OUTLINE
• Purpose of the Paper
• Process so far in aquatic biosecurity
development
• PICT inputs/interventions
• Programme elements
• Actions already being undertaken
• Next step
PURPOSE
highlight the work in progress for the development
of regional aquatic biosecurity framework based on
outcome of the recent SPC/FAO Regional Aquatic
Biosecurity Workshop in Nadi, October, 2012;
invite Heads of Fisheries to discuss and endorse the
elements that would comprise the development of
the regional aquatic biosecurity framework.
What is Biosecurity
A strategic and integrated approach that
encompasses both policy and regulatory
frameworks; biosecurity is aimed at analyzing and
managing the RISKS of the sectors dealing with:
Food safety
Plant life and health
Animal (+aquatic) life and health
Environment
Biosecurity and Aquaculture
In aquaculture, biosecurity is a collective term that refers to the
concept of applying appropriate measures (e.g., proactive
disease risk analysis) to reduce the probability of a
biological organism or agent spreading to an individual,
population, or ecosystem, and to mitigate the adverse impact
that may result (Arthur et al. 2004).
This analysis is done in a way that incorporates the best
information available on aspects of husbandry, epidemiology,
and sound science.
Process so far to develop the Biosecurity Framework
(also see para. 4 of WP5)
• 2008, HOF6, Fisheries Heads endorsed aquatic biosecurity as
a new programme for SPC FAME
• 2010, 2012 OIE WAHIS workshop recommendations to
strengthen capacity in avoidance, detection and reporting of
aquatic animal diseases
• 2011, HOF7, SPC/FAO Regional Aquaculture Scoping workshop
(biosecurity emerged as the top priority)
• 2012 SPC/FAO Regional Aquatic Biosecurity Workshop
convened to develop the regional aquatic biosecurity
programme
Process to develop the Biosecurity Framework cntd.
• Frequent PICT country requests for assistance
and capacity-building in Risk Assessment for
aquatic species introductions
• Interventions by PICTs at recent FAO COFI
meetings, and decisions of Heads (HoF7 WP5) stressed the importance to this region
of access to, and responsible use of, aquatic
genetic resources for fisheries and
aquaculture
Example of PICT input to FAO COFI process
SPC funded Cook Islands to attend as PICTs’ representative to
COFI sub-committee on aquaculture (Cape Town 2012).
Cook Islands made this intervention on the region’s behalf:
“PICTs call for FAO to provide technical assistance on
reviewing the status of aquatic genetic resources
management at regional and national level, by assessing
needs and capacities at both of these levels and by
facilitating regional priorities-setting.
PICTs would like to ensure that access to improved varieties
for aquaculture is maintained and that capacity to
introduce and farm them responsibly is increased”
TWO CORE COMPONENTS
i
Aquatic Animal Health
develop capacity of PICTs on aquaculture biosecurity governance
through a regional framework and programme on aquatic animal health
that will enable PICTs to manage biosecurity threats derived from or
affecting aquaculture industries
Ii Aquatic Species Introduction
promote responsible use and control of introduced or translocated
aquatic species in aquaculture and fisheries in the PICTs
Results of the Survey from 18 PICTs attending the Regional
Biosecurity Framework workshop in 2012 highlighted the
following major constraints
Aquatic Animal Health
Aquatic Species Introduction
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
i. Regulatory framework;
ii. FAO data base on aquatic species
introductions (DIAS);
iii. international instruments and
guidelines and the applicability
at the national level on aquatic
species introductions;
iv. Capacity at the national level on
applying risk analysis for aquatic
species introductions;
v. address knowledge gaps to
better enable science-based
decisions to be made about
aquatic species introductions
specific policy,
dedicated infrastructure,
capacity,
appropriate legislation,
enforcement,
public awareness,
coordination between agencies
dedicated funding,
MAJOR PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
GAPS
ACTIVITIES
1. Policy and regulatory framework
Develop/update national aquatic biosecurity
strategies.
2. Risk analysis
• Improve capacity on risk analysis through
training workshops at the national/subregional/
regional level
3. Pathogen lists
• Develop national & regional pathogen lists
4. International instruments and
guidelines applicable to aquatic
species introduction
•Develop a set of guidelines for PICTs regarding
aquatic species introductions and
translocations.
•Develop biosecurity measures templates (e.g.
import standards, quarantine protocols) for
commodities that are actively transported
within the region
•Review the importance of aquatic genetic
resources and identify actions to address
constraints and gaps in knowledge
MAJOR PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
GAPS
ACTIVITIES
5. Diagnostics, health certification
& quarantine
• Conduct training at regional and national
levels on quarantine protocols for aquatic
animals.
• Official designation of a regional or
subregional laboratory for aquatic animal health
6. Surveillance, monitoring and
reporting .
•Improve national capacity to comply with OIE
World Aquatic Animal Health Information
System (WAHIS) reporting (national and regional
reporting and feedback system).
•Establish a design for a regional surveillance
system for a list of priority diseases.
7. Regional and international
cooperation.
• Develop a regional reference laboratory to
assist PICTs with disease diagnostics in order to
improve existing quarantine measures for
aquatic animals (e.g. sample processing,
pathology, molecular analysis) .
Actions already being taken
• COFI Advisory Working Group on Genetic
Resources now being established by FAO
(Cape Town COFI Sub-committee on
aquaculture called for this group to be formed
– subsequently endorsed by 2012 COFI in
Rome).
• SPC represented this region at an FAO meeting
(Jan 2013) to draft Terms of Reference for the
Advisory Group
Actions already being taken
FAO has launched a State of the World’s Aquatic
Genetic Resources (SoW AqGR) review
The set-up of this Advisory Group, and the SoW
AqGR process, both afford opportunities for
issues of concern for PICTs to be addressed.
Actions already being take
• SPC input to Micronesion biosecurity plan
• SPC responding to country requests on IRA, e.g. for
sea cucumber (Kiribati), seaweed (Fiji) cobia (PNG),
tilapia (Solomon Islands)
• Training for Fiji and Kiribati sandfish quarantine and
disease diagnostics (SPC)
• National Risk Analysis training for Palau, RMI, FSM &
Tonga (FAO)
• Integration of aquatic biosecurity into terrestrial
animal health, e.g. OIE reporting
Next steps
Subject to your endorsement of the elements of
the Regional Aquatic Biosecurity framework:
• Joint SPC-FAO Scoping Paper outlining a
programme of actions
• Seek support to implement priority actions, e.g.
• FAO regional TCP (or set of national TCPs)
• SPC programme funds
• Leverage co-financing e.g. from Commission on
Genetic Resources, or CBD Secretariat, or SPREP.
Next steps
• SPC can continue to look for support to
establish the Aquatic Biosecurity Officer
position endorsed in principle by Heads at
HoF6 and which is again called for by Vanuatu,
Fiji and FSM in this HOF8.
THANK YOU