Species Introductions: Impacts on Aquatic Animal

Health and Trade

C.V.Mohan

NACA

Purpose of introductions and movements

• An established practice since the mid- 19th century

• Intentional, Unintentional, Unknown reasons– Aquaculture– Fisheries enhancement– Angling/sport fishing– Ornamental fish trade– Biological control of undesirable species

Aquatic species introductions

Source: Source: www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/fishery/statist/fisoft/dias/statisti.htmwww.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/fishery/statist/fisoft/dias/statisti.htm

Species introduced

Source: Source: www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/fishery/statist/fisoft/dias/statisti.htmwww.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/fishery/statist/fisoft/dias/statisti.htm

Reasons for increasing trend

• Expansion, intensification and diversification of aquaculture – based heavily on movements of live aquatic animals

and animal products (broodstock, seed and feed)

• Advances in aquatic animal trade facilitated by improved transportation efficiency

• World trade liberalisation and globalisation

Examples of successes and failures

• Chile: introduced coho salmon, Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout– world’s leading producer of farmed salmonids

– Provides foreign exchange and employment for thousands of people in areas where there are few other opportunities for development

• Philippines: introduction of the golden apple snails to increase rural aquacultrue production and for export purposes– Resulted in severe rice production losses, infested area

expanded rapidly, and they are now considered the most serious pest problem in major rice growing areas in the country

Examples of successes and failures

• Nile perch (Lates niloticus) introduction into Lake Victoria– Turned a primarily artisanal fishery into a multi-

million dollar industrial fishery and processing operation

– Tremendous income generated– Socio-economic system of the community changed

• But, hundreds of indigenous species lost to predation

• Many more examples…

Risks and Impacts of Trans-boundary Aquatic

Animal Pathogens/Diseases

Trans-boundary aquatic animal

pathogens/diseases  • have the potential for very rapid spread, through

movements (introductions and transfers) of hosts, causing serious consequences.

• cause a high morbidity and mortality in susceptible animal populations and they constitute a constant threat to aquaculture and the livelihood of farmers.

 Cause negative environmental impacts through die-offs in wildlife populations

 Increase poverty levels particularly in poor communities that have a high dependence on aquaculture farming for sustenance

 Cause critical shortfalls in production systems, destabilise market thereby reducing farm incomes

Trigger trade barriers; seriously disrupt or inhibit trade in live aquatic animals and their products either within a country or internationally.

Spread of EUS 1972

1980

1985

1971

19791987

1991

1996

1989

1989

19881984

1983

1981

1984 1983

Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome

• A serious finfish disease in Asia-Pacific since 1970’s

• Affecting more than 100 species of wild and cultured fresh and brackish water species

• Single fungal species is the necessary cause – ‘Aphanomyces invadans’

• Massive socio-economic impact• Continues to expand its range, the latest into

the rivers of the Indus in the Punjab of Pakistan

• Ulcerative Mycosis in USA, same as EUS?

VNN spread2000

1998

2000

1991, 1994

???

1995

2000???Groupers/seabass

1998

2000

1988, 1991, 1997

1997

Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN)

• A serious viral problem to grouper culture• First reported in Japan in 1991 and 1994• Major outbreaks occurred in Singapore in

1991 and 1997; Thailand in 1995; South Korea and Indonesia in 1998; Australia, Philippines and China in 2000

• Expanding trend in grouper aquaculture and related trade – without appropriate health management measures, increases the risk of introducing the pathogen into new localities and environments

??Groupers and other marine cultured/aquarium fish

1990’s

Neobenedenia girellae

• Monogenean parasite• Introduced to Japan via imported amberjack fry• Caused heavy mortalities among flounder cultured

in floating cages • 15 species of cultured marine fishes (e.g. groupers,

flounders and brackishwater tilapia) become susceptible

• serious problem to grouper culture in SE Asia

WSD: first occurence

1991/92

1993

White Spot Disease (WSD)

• Unarguably the most serious pathogen of cultivated shrimp in the world

• First serious outbreaks in China in 1993• Production dropped from 135,000 metric tons to 30,000

metric tons in 1 year (70% drop)• Global estimate of cumulative lost production to date

exceeds 1 M metric tons• Questions on origin and spread of WSSV needs careful

investigation– Seed and brood– Frozen shrimp– Feed??

The Asian pandemic

1993

1991/2

1993

1993

1993

1994

1999

Emergence and spread in the Americas

1995

1999

1997

1996

2000

2000

1999

1999

Taura Syndrome Virus(TSV) to Taiwan and Asia

• Losses due to TSV in the Americas – 1990-1991: US$ 1-2 M

• First reported in 1999 in Taiwan• Resulted from import of P. vannamei for aquaculture• TSV confirmed in Indonesia• P. vannamei being legally/illegally imported to other

countries with the same risk• Need for Import risk analysis, quarantine and health

certification

International/regional codes

and guidelines

for aquatic animal health and

movement of live aquatic animals

Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement - 1995)

‘reference to protection of life and health from hazards in food’

• 142 members including ASEAN, FAO, NACA, SEAFDEC member governments

• OIE or World Animal Health Organization - is the relevant organization with respect to animal health including aquatic animal health (diagnosis, screening and reporting)

Office International des Epizooties – World Animal Health Organization

• OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code

• OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases

obligatory

158 Member Governments

• NACA/FAO and OIE Asia-Pacific Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System

mid 1998, 18 quarterly issues published to-date

beginning January 2002

• FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Art. 9.3.3)

“States should, in order to minimise risks of disease transfer and other adverse effects on wild and cultured stocks, encourage adoption of appropriate practices ….”

• Asia Regional Guidelines on Health Considerations for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals (FAO/NACA/ASEAN)

“Technical Guidelines”

• Developed through three years of awareness raising and consensus building

• Adopted by 21 participating countries (Asia-Pacific region) in Beijing in June 2000

• Adopted by ASEAN Fisheries Working Group in Bali in September 2001 as an ASEAN policy document

• Endorsed by the ASEAN/SEAFDEC Millenium Conference on Fish for People in November 2001 in Bangkok

National Strategies on Aquatic Animal Health Management

Different stages of developmentAPEC/ASEAN/FAO/NACA/SEAFDEC 21 Member Governments in Asia-PacificAustralia Bangladesh Cambodia China PR

Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Japan Korea DPR Korea RO Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Philippines Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam and recently Brunei Darussalam

Examples of National Strategies

• Australia: ‘AQUAPLAN’ contains a five year strategic plan for aquatic animal health; prepared through close consultation between government and industry; initiatives ranging from border controls and import certification, enhanced veterinary education, capacity to manage exotic animal disease incursions

• Remains free from several major aquatic diseases which has given the country a comparative advantage, both in terms of production and trade

Examples of National Strategies

• Singapore: “Accredited Ornamental Fish Exporters Scheme” and “Code of Practice for Ornamental Fish Exporters”– Good management, hygiene practices, general

lay-out of premises especially with reference to quarantine facilities

• Remains to be the world’s top exporter of ornamentals

Examples of National Strategies

• Thailand: a good model for establishing strong relationships between government and industry sector

• Strong support to industry– Reinvesting profit from shrimp exports to improved

aquatic animal health capabilities– Established a ‘Code of Conduct for Marine Shrimp

Farming” – government and industry cooperation to meet the industry’s goals for environmental, social and economic responsibility

• Remains to be one of the leading shrimp producer

• Risks of major epidemics will continue to threaten• Newly emerging trans-boundary diseases will COST

governments and private sector MUCH MORE in production losses, treatments and efforts to contain and eradicate them than would have spent to PREVENT their ENTRIES INTO NEW AREAS.

• All efforts will be ineffective without STRONG NATIONAL COMMITMENT from RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATION and ACTIVE SUPPORT and COOPERATION from the PRIVATE SECTOR!

Keep the pathogens OUT!• Precautionary approach • Import Risk analysis

(IRA)• Responsible Movement

of Live Aquatic Animals to minimise the risk

• Improved compliance with agreements/treaties

“prevention is better than cure”