Aquatic animal health management: investment opportunities within developing countries

Over the years, diseases and epizootics have caused significant production losses to the East-growing aquaculture sector and to the natural aquatic po pulations in the wild. As a result, disease control and health management h ave been considered as key contributors to aquaculture sustainability. The risk of diseases and pathogen transfer through trans-boundary movement of i nfected animals, risk of aquatic environmental pollution, risk to human hea lth and environment due to excessive use of chemicals and drugs, underdevel oped genetic improvement and broodstock management programmes, and lack of adequate knowledge on the role of good nutrition in aquatic animal health m anagement have been identified as key constraints to realizing the full pot ential of aquaculture. Implementation of the 'systems-approach' has been re cognized as an effective means of overcoming such constraints, and strong i nternational cooperation is required to achieve this and the Code of Conduc t for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) provides a platform for such cooperation . Guidelines for the implementation of CCRF are envisaged to provide a rang e of technical, legal, and economic options and tools to the concerned part ies to assist rectifying the above shortfalls. However, such technical guid elines, which could be practically applied within developing country situat ions, can only be developed once adequate information and appropriate techn ologies are available, and all stakeholders agree to cooperate and collabor ate closely. Therefore, considering (a) the need for the developed countrie s to cooperate on the health management for sustainable aquaculture develop ment in developing countries and (b) the role that the CCRF can play toward s achieving responsible aquaculture, this paper describes the possible inve stment opportunities, which are mutually beneficial to both the developed a nd developing countries. It emphasizes in particular the collaboration on i nvestment for development and transfer of technologies appropriate for deve loping countries.