In recent years, demand for high quality seafood world-wide has increased significantly and continues to increase. This demand cannot be met by wild capture fisheries and has led to expansion of the world's aquaculture industries. In Australia, aquaculture is also growing. In the past 5 years the value of Australian aquaculture has doubled to approximately $700 million (ABARE 2001) and is expected to increase to $2.5 billion by 2010 (ACIL Consulting 1999). As the industry expands and intensifies the risk of infectious disease outbreaks also increases and there is a need for an increased level of expertise nation-wide on aquatic animal diseases.

As the range of aquaculture species expands so, too, will the range of diseases. Disease diagnosis and control will become an even higher priority than in the past. There will be a requirement to maintain and improve disease diagnostic capability. Increased diagnostic services will be required in these specialised areas, and training of personnel in aquatic animal pathology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology will be essential.

Currently, research on, and diagnosis of, aquatic animal diseases is undertaken with some limitations by State laboratories, private veterinary laboratories, universities, research institutes, and CSIRO divisions including AAHL Fish Diseases Laboratory (AFDL) at CSIRO Livestock Industries. It is essential to build on these resources to become better prepared for the anticipated growth in industry.

Training courses for diagnosticians and fish health specialists will be required to maintain Australia's proficiency to detect and diagnose aquatic animal diseases, and maintain the confidence of our trading partners. Due to increased world trade and travel, the threat of exotic disease is increasing. This project is aimed at providing information and training to aquatic animal health specialists to assist in recognition of exotic disease, and management of disease emergencies.

References
1. ABARE 2001. Australian Fisheries Statistics 2000, Canberra, ACT.
2. ACIL Consulting 1999. Aquaculture beyond 2000. Facilitator’s Report, prepared by Denis Hussey, Senior Associate, ACIL Consulting on a workshop, Changing Direction, held 23-24 August 1999, Canberra.

Emergency aquatic animal responses often involve complex, multi-lateral and inter-jurisdictional arrangements, and also can have specific trade and market access responsibilities that need to managed. Part of maintaining Australia's aquatic biosecurity track record is to improve the awareness and preparedness within specific industry sectors. Since 2005 there has been a number of abalone disease outbreaks, which may have potential trade and market access issues. It is critical that the industry nationally take stock and ensure it captures the wealth of lessons that have been learnt, and gain a common understanding of established procedures and responsibilities, especially how government, processing, commercial fishing and farms can best respond to any future outbreaks.

Australian prawn production at around 22 kilotonnes is valued in excess of $250 million. Clearly, the prawn fishery is an important natural resource for Australia that is also the basis for a significant export industry. In addition, prawn aquaculture is a significant industry in northern Australia and accounts for around 14% of the total volume of Australian prawn production. Infectious myonecrosis is a viral disease that has caused significant disease outbreaks and mortalities in farmed Penaeus vannamei in Brazil and South-East Asia, including Indonesia. While P. vannamei is considered the principal host, experimental infection of P. stylirostris (Pacific blue shrimp) and P. monodon (black tiger shrimp) has been reported. The susceptibility of other shrimp/prawn species is unknown. Information on the susceptibility of prawn species important to Australia, including banana prawns (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis), brown tiger prawns (P. esculentus) is lacking. This project would provide information on the susceptibility of two important species of Australian prawns to exotic IMNV. Such information is important to policy-makers, regulators and primary producers with respect to relevant biosecurity issues at all levels of government.