Biosecurity in aquaculture: practical veterinary approaches for aquatic animal disease prevention, control, and potential eradication.

Abstract This chapter presents the various factors to consider in setting up a well managed biosecurity system for aquaculture which includes the following topics: disease management versus disease prevention, control and eradication; the epidemiological unit - the focus of all biosecurity activities; expanding the process for larger units in a country (compartmentalisation and zoning); the IAVBC process applied to developing biosecurity plan on individual farms; teamwork in developing and implementing biosecurity programmes; identifying, prioritising and determining the impact of hazardous diseases for the biosecurity plan; identifying, prioritising and mitigating critical points; where disease can enter or leave an epidemiological unit; developing a contingency plan if disease is found; determining if priority diseases (hazards) are present using clinical evaluation and diagnostic tests; maintaining biosecurity-surveillance, monitoring and keeping records; veterinary auditing and certification for freedom from disease and achieving government recognition; a way forward for aquaculture to meet international (OIE) and national biosecurity requirements.