The Aquaculture Industry Action Agenda –
Protecting the aquaculture industry from aquatic diseases and pests

What's New?

AQUAPLAN 2005-2010

A new national plan will help ensure Australia continues to be a world leader in aquatic animal health.

Click Here to download AQUAPLAN 2005-2010 (Adobe PDF, 4 MB).
Click Here to visit the Aquatic Animal Health Site

Aquatic Animal Welfare Guidelines
"Guidelines on welfare of fish and crustacea held in live holding systems for human consumption."

The guidelines outline basic guiding principles for the keeping of finfish and crustacea in aquaculture and in live holding systems, such as lobsters temporarily in tanks at restaurants. Some of the issues outlined include: Water quality and temperature, feeding and stocking density, health and importantly, humane slaughter.

Download the Report

More about Protecting the aquaculture industry from aquatic diseases and pests

Opportunity
Australia has significant, clean and disease-free natural resources including land, and inland and marine waters for aquaculture of a wide range of warm and cold water species.

Objective
To protect Australia’s clean and disease-free natural resource base.

Actions
The Commonwealth Government will continue to work with the National Aquaculture Council industry and State and Territory Governments to

• establish an efficient and cost-effective mechanism for approving chemical and implement a strategy to raise awareness of responsible chemical use in the aquaculture industry.
  
• review the Commonwealth Government’s and industry’s commitment to implementing Australia’s national strategic plan for aquatic animal health (AQUAPLAN) when current funding for many aspects of this programme cease in June 2004.
  
• ensure import risk assessments and other quarantine-related processes operate as part of a transparent decision-making system.
  
• develop quarantine and aquatic animal health standards to reduce the spread of disease through trade in aquatic animals and products.
  
• develop a national system for the prevention and management of introduced marine pests as outlined in the 1999 Report of the National Taskforce on the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions, coordinated through the National Introduced Marine Pests Consultative Group.
  
• improve management of translocation of aquatic organisms in line with the principles set out in the 1999 National Policy for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Organisms.