Acronym AquaPlan
Category
Aquaculture
Title Development of an AquaPlan for Irish Finfish Aquaculture Programme Nat. Programme (supported by ESIF)
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National-European Coordinator Neil Ruane Coordinator email neil.ruane@marine.ie
Coordinator institution
MI - Marine Institute (Ireland)
Institutions involved
NA - Fish Vet Group Ireland (Ireland) ,
NA - IFQC Ltd (Ireland) ,
ISGA - Irish Salmon Growers Association (Ireland) ,
Start year 2008 End year 2012 Funding (€) € 331,174 Website https://marine.smartsimple.ie/ex/ex_viewpagefield.jsp?token=@Gg0NTxkceFlZRBdaQBFPQ1JSYVB3E3hjFGFVVERNalxeQA~~ Summary The AquaPlan project brought together the key stakeholders from the finfish aquaculture industry and state agencies with the aim of drafting and implementing a national strategic plan for fish health in Ireland. Many countries already have well established comprehensive strategies for managing aquatic animal health which are deemed necessary for the sustainable development of the industry. A range of deliverables were produced by the project which are all essential components of the strategic plan for fish health management. A comprehensive manual, The Farmed Salmonid Health Handbook, for the salmon and trout industry was developed, and contains detailed and practical information on all aspects of fish stock care, from veterinary issues, environmental protection to legislation and more. Information leaflets were produced on all of the main diseases currently affecting the Irish industry and also those listed under EU legislation. The leaflets form part of the Handbook but can also be used separately. An Emerging Disease Contingency Plan was also drawn up and outlines specific procedures to be followed in the event of an emerging disease outbreak. The plan also includes maps generated by hydrographic modelling illustrating potential epidemiological zones around marine fish farms based on water movement data collected over a period of twelve months. The project also provided a range of training courses for those involved in the aquaculture industry and relevant training manuals were developed and distributed to participants. Upon completion of the courses, trainees would be able to perform basic disease screening, construct fish health management plans and develop biosecurity programmes. The project also examined the financial losses due to infectious disease in fish which went to sea between winter 2004 and the spring of 2008. During this period, the three most economically significant diseases in the marine environment were sea lice infestations, pancreas disease and gill disorders. Future research initiatives focussing on the management of these diseases could have the potential to result in significant returns and value for money. All outputs from the project were combined into a national Strategic Plan for Fish Health Management. This plan is available as a website (www.fishhealth.ie) and will be regularly updated.
The AquaPlan project aims to bring together the key Irish stakeholders from the industry and state agencies, in the drafting and implementation of a national strategic plan for fish health in Ireland. The production of an Irish fish health strategy is seen as a key step towards the sustainable development of the finfish sector. The project builds and enhances the national capacity for the management of finfish health in the aquaculture sector through the production of a number of documents outlined in this report and the development of training courses and seminars to provide up-skilling opportunities and information dissemination to those working in the sector. The project will provide the basis for the development and implementation of a Strategic Plan for Fish Health Management in Ireland.
Keywords
Fish health;
Fish;
Trout;
Salmon;
Aquaculture industry;
Animal welfare;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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