Aquaculture Biosecurity Program

The importance of biosecurity and disinfection in aquaculture

The world's demands for high quality aquaculture products make control of diseases increasingly important. Good Biosecurity programs are vital to maintaining healthy animals and to reducing the risk of acquiring disease in a facility.

Good Biosecurity programs reduce the exposure to disease causing organisms with:

• External barriers – preventing the spread of disease organisms onto and off a farm
• Internal barriers – preventing the spread of disease organisms within a farm

Disease causing organisms are often spread by vectors, such as people or equipment. If these vectors are properly disinfected at defined critical control points then exposure to disease causing organisms will be greatly reduced. An effective disinfectant is chosen based on;

• Efficacy - Proven efficacy is of major importance, particularly as many disinfectants are ineffective against the full range of viral, bacterial and fungal disease causing organisms. Particularly in aquaculture the viruses that cause diseases such as Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis are extremely persistent and difficult to destroy.
• Environmental impact - A good disinfectant must kill pathogenic organisms within a facility but must not harm organisms in the environment when released.
• Operator safety – Any products used must be safe for staff employing the product and all safety protocols must be strictly adhered to.

Biosecurity Program for Aquaculture Facilities

The principles of a good Biosecurity program apply to all systems whether they be land based, flow through, recirculation sea cage systems.

External barriers – – preventing the spread of disease organisms onto and off a farm by focussing on;

• Pathogen-free water source at all times for land based farms
• Total ban on movements of fish from other fish farms or at least a total ban on movements of fish from fish farm with older or fish of poorer health.
• Restrictions on movements of fish between farm sites of the same company
• Restriction on visits to the fish farm.
• Restriction on access to a farm site i.e. fence around the site, locked doors etc.
• Strict sanitary measures for any people entering the fish farm
  • protective clothing (washed regularly in hot water and disinfected)
  • foot dips and hand hygiene
  • cleaning and disinfection program
  • pest management control

Internal barriers - preventing the spread of disease organisms within a farm by;

• Separation of each unit within a facility and isolatation of these units from each other.
• Define sanitary units or areas on each farm site
• Define sanitary measures (i.e. cleaning & disinfection, pest control program) inside each unit or area.
• Define sanitary measures on movements between different units   or areas i.e total ban of movements from area X to area Z
• Restrict movements of tools and fish
• Strict sanitary measures for any people entering the fish farm
  • protective clothing (washed regularly in hot water or disinfected)
  • foot dips and hand hygiene
  • cleaning and disinfection program
  • pest management control