This project improved understanding of methods for surveillance for several diseases of farmed oysters. Surveillance is a critical component of biosecurity and aquatic animal health activities.  Surveillance supports understanding health status of populations of animals, provides evidence to support claims of freedom or understanding prevalence and increases the likelihood that a new or emergent disease can be controlled.

Mollusc diseases are less well understood than terrestrial animal and many finfish diseases and this project sought to develop understanding of three oyster diseases of substantial economic impact in the Australilan edible oyster aquaculture industries:

Pacific Oyster mortality syndrome (POMS), South Australian mortality syndrome (SAMS), and winter mortality (WM).