The most suitable approach to Activity 1.2 will depend on the nature of the different sectors, the level of understanding of biosecurity and current biosecurity practices. The activity must be developed in a way that is end-user driven, i.e. must provide appropriate support that meets the needs of farmers. These needs are likely to differ among sectors and individual farm managers.
A Sub-Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH) Working Group (WG) has been established to oversee the overall project. As a first step the WG has recommended that up to eight aquaculture industry sectors be surveyed by Instinct and Reason.
Farm owners/managers from up to eight aquaculture industry sectors (abalone, barramundi, edible oyster, pearl oyster, prawns, salmonids, southern bluefin tuna, and/or yellowtail kingfish) will be surveyed to investigate the level of biosecurity knowledge present within and the current biosecurity practices used across each sector, as well as identify the need for provision of support to develop and implement on-farm biosecurity plans in each sector and the most appropriate support approach(es) to address those needs.
This project will establish a baseline understanding of biosecurity knowledge across the Australian aquaculture industry sectors and identify the need for provision of support to develop and implement enterprise-level biosecurity plans, as well as the most suitable approach(es) to address those needs. The overall project will then further develop and implement a support program to assist Australian aquaculture producers to prepare and carry-out enterprise-level biosecurity plans.