AAHRI Newsletter Article

Volume 10 No.2, December 2001

REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
Supranee Chianbut

It is well understand that live grouper trade has been growing associated with increased live seafood market. Result from this live grouper movement lead to increase number of infectious diseases not only in grouper but also in other fish species, especially viral diseases. Fish Health Section/Asian Fisheries Society (FHS/AFS) concern on this issue, therefore propose the project proposal on “Development of a regional Research Programme on Grouper Virus Transmission and Vaccine Development” for APEC funding support at the 10^th APEC FWG Meeting in Cairns, Australia in May 1999. Funding was approved (APEC FWG 02/2000) for a one year period to undertake a disease impact survey, conduct a workshop to determine the status of grouper health, to evaluate existing diagnosis techniques and to develop a regional programme on grouper health that will assist in reducing losses by identifying research needs and strategies to minimize the risks of disease outbreak. The FHS/AFS has been awarded the contract to implement this project. The section works closely with Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (AAHRI) and Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) to organize the activities to achieve the project. objective.

The project was implemented by a “Project Team” headed by Dr Supranee Chinabut, Chairperson of FHS/AFS and Director of AAHRI; two consultants, Dr John Humphrey of the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia and Dr Angus Cameron of AusVet, Australia; two staff members of the FHS/AFS, Dr Melba B. Reantaso of NACA and Dr Sataporn Direkbusarakom of Walailuk University for technical support; and Dr Somkiat Kanchanakhan of AAHRI as Project Overseer of APEC FWG 02/2000.

The objective of the project were:

• To update the current knowledge on grouper health, particularly viral diseases, their impact, including standard and identifying research for viral disease diagnosis

• To develop a regional programme on grouper health that will assist in reducing losses due to grouper diseases, initially by identifying research needs that will address the following:

• Development of suitable cell lines for grouper viral isolation.
• Development of techniques for grouper viral identification and diagnosis.
• Development of protocols for grouper viral disease induction and investigation on modes of transmission.
• Prevention and control of viral diseases of grouper diseases, VNN, iridovirus at the hatchery stage.

• To develop strategies to minimize risks of pathogen transfer through responsible movement of live grouper.

• To identify funding mechanisms that will support the implementation of the regional programme on grouper health.

• To strengthen the network of aquatic animal health working on grouper and other marine fish diseases in the APEC region

The first activities were organized and conducted a“ Grouper Diseases Impact Survey Workshop” held at the NACA Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand on 27-29 May 2000. The participants attended this workshop come from Australia, Indonesia, Korea PO, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The representatives and the “Project Team” discussed and finalized the survey, which included development of the survey questionnaire and database, sampling methods, data entry, management and analysis using EpiInfo software. The participants were trained on the use of the EpiInfo software. Additionally, the “Project Team” discussed with representatives from Brunei Darussalam, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore on their participation in grouper survey and the next Workshop Proper.

The Workshop Proper held at the NACA Headquarters, in Bangkok, Thailand on 18-20 October 2000, was attended by a total of 41 participants from 12 APEC economies and NACA member governments (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Korea RO, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam); technical experts/specialists on grouper diseases, import risk analysis and aquatic animal vaccines from representatives of national governments, research institutes and universities and the private sector. Twelve participating economies presented results on grouper disease impact survey and status of grouper diseases. Seven technical presentations, one regional synthesis and one APEC FWG project update also presented. A Framework of a Regional Research Programme on Grouper Health and Production, which contained 9 majors components was drafted. It includes sub-projects and specific recommendations on the following major components:

1. Health and production at hatcheries
2. Regional collaborative disease resource centers
3. Regional disease monitoring and surveillance
4. Improving regional diagnosis capabilities
5. Responsible trans-boundary movement
6. Farm health management
7. Vaccines and vaccination
8. Funding mechanisms
9. Ad-hoc working group

A follow-up activity of the APEC Fishery Working Group in year 2001-2002. One of the recommendation from both APEC FWG 02/2000 and APEC FWG 03/200 outcomes is a regional training course and workshop on Import Risk Analysis (IRA) of aquatic animals. It is therefore one of the approved APEC FWG projects for 2001-2002 is “Capacity and Awareness Building on Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Aquatic Animals”. The Department of Fisheries, Thailand, will Overseer the project and NACA will be a Project Coordinator. The new project has brief objectives as follows:

- Organise the first Asia-Pacific training course and workshop on Import Risk Analysis for Aquatic Animals
- Develop a manual on IRA for aquatic animals
- Establish a network of people involved in conducting IRAs for aquatic animals
- Facilitate further exchanges of experience and expertise on IRA for aquatic animals.

Note: The full title of APEC FWG 03/2000 was “Joint APEC/FAO/NACA/SEMARNAP-Mexico Ad-Hoc Expert Consultation on Trans-boundary Aquatic Animal Pathogen Transfer and Development of Harmonised Standards on Aquatic Animal Health Management”.