Options for on farm aquaculture biosecurity technical document FINAL

366 Pages·2017·2.72 MB·English

Options to Strengthen On-farm
Biosecurity Management for
Commercial and Non-commercial
Aquaculture

Technical Paper No: 2016/47

Prepared for the Aquaculture Unit
by Eugene Georgiades, Risk Analysis (Animals and Aquatic),
Richard Fraser (Animal and Marine Biosecurity Response)
and Brian Jones (Bacteriology and Aquatic Animal Health/Forensics).

ISBN No: 978-1-77665-341-6 (o)
ISSN No: 2253-3923 (o)

July 2016
Options to strengthen on-farm biosecurity management
for commercial and non-commercial aquaculture.

29 July 2016

Approved for general release

Daniel Lees - Manager, Aquaculture Unit
Simon McDonald - Manager, Animals and Marine Biosecurity Response Team
Ministry for Primary Industries

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, the
Ministry for Primary Industries does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of fact,
omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions
based on this information.

Requests for further copies should be directed to:

Publications Logistics Officer
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
WELLINGTON 6140

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 04-894 0300

This publication is also available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website at
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/publications/

© Crown Copyright - Ministry for Primary Industries
Contributors to this Technical Paper

Primary authors
Dr Eugene Georgiades Senior Adviser Ministry for Primary
Biosecurity Risk Analysis Industries,
New Zealand
Professor Brian Jones Adjunct Professor, Murdoch Ministry for Primary
University (Western Australia) Industries,
Acting Team Manager, New Zealand
Bacteriology and Aquatic
Animal Health/Forensics
Secondary author
Richard Fraser Senior Adviser Ministry for Primary
Animal and Marine Biosecurity Industries,
Response New Zealand

The contribution of the following reviewers is also gratefully acknowledged:

Dr Colin Johnston Technical Director
Aquaculture New Zealand
Dr Stephen Cobb Manager
Biosecurity Risk Analysis, MPI
Dr Anjali Pande Senior Adviser
Surveillance and Incursion Investigation, MPI
Dr Erin Breen Senior Fisheries Analyst
Inshore Fisheries, MPI
Brian Roughan Specialist Adviser
Verification Services, Agency Technical, MPI
Warren Hughes Principal Adviser
ACVM Regulation and Assurance Systems, MPI
Blake Abernethy Senior Analyst
Spatial Allocations, MPI
Jodi Milne Fisheries Analyst
Spatial Allocations, MPI
Steve Pullan Senior Fisheries Analyst
Spatial Allocations, MPI
Dr Kate Littin Manager Standards Programme
Animal Welfare, MPI
Dr Richard Ford Principal Scientist
Fisheries Management, MPI
Oriana Brine Adviser
Market Access, MPI
Barbara Hickey Market Access Counsellor
Market Access, MPI
Rose Bird Adviser
Long-term Incursion Management, MPI
Kathy Walls Senior Adviser
Animal and Marine Biosecurity Response, MPI
Jen Brunton Senior Adviser
Animal and Marine Biosecurity Response, MPI
Jennifer Newitt Senior Adviser
Animal and Marine Biosecurity Response, MPI
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Contents
Page
1 Executive Summary 1
2 Glossary 2
2.1 References 11
3 Abbreviations 12
4 Introduction 14
4.1 Document purpose 14
4.2 Document scope 16
4.3 How to use this document 17
5 Biosecurity risks in aquaculture and their management 19
5.1 Biosecurity (general) 19
5.2 Integrated approach to biosecurity 33
5.3 Identification of biosecurity hazards to New Zealand aquaculture 38
5.4 Area-based management 71
5.5 Auditing 78
5.6 Biofouling management (finfish) 81
5.7 Biofouling management (shellfish) 100
5.8 Cleaning and disinfection 120
5.9 Contingency plans 145
5.10 Facility design and structures 150
5.11 Fallowing 160
5.12 Feeds and feeding 169
5.13 Good husbandry 175
5.14 HACCP procedures 193
5.15 Harmful algal blooms 1: marine 198
5.16 Harmful algal blooms 2: freshwater 207
5.17 Harvest (finfish) 214
5.18 Harvest (shellfish) 220
5.19 Jellyfish 226
5.20 New or unfamiliar aquaculture species 230
5.21 On-site management of staff and visitors 234
5.22 Population separation within land-based facilities 241
5.23 Preventive practices (surveillance and vaccination) 245
5.24 Reactive measures for disease management (veterinary medicines) 257
5.25 Record keeping and traceability 261
5.26 Removal and disposal of dead and moribund stock 269
5.27 Site location 278
5.28 Stock containment 286
5.29 Stock origin and gamete production 294
5.30 Stock transfers 313
5.31 Waste management (solid) 325
5.32 Water treatment 330
5.33 Wildlife management 344
5.34 Year class separation 352
6 Appendices 357
6.1 Relevant legislation 357
iii

1 Executive Summary
Aquaculture facilities have an inherent risk of pest and pathogen introduction, exacerbation or
spread. Biosecurity measures can be employed to effectively manage these risks.

People involved at any level of the aquaculture industry play a vital role to New Zealand’s
biosecurity system. Maintaining good on-farm biosecurity practices can minimise the
potential impact of pests and pathogens to farms, sectors, the wider industry and
New Zealand’s aquatic environment. Following good biosecurity practices demonstrates to
others that the New Zealand aquaculture industry is a responsible user of the aquatic
environment, reduces impacts to markets, and ensures New Zealand’s reputation for high
environmental performance.

To assist the commercial and non-commercial aquaculture industry to strengthen their on-
farm biosecurity practices, the Ministry for Primary Industries, in collaboration with
Aquaculture New Zealand, have produced this technical document and associated reference
material and templates. This information can be found on the MPI website www.mpi.govt.nz.

This document provides technical information, biosecurity objectives and best practice
options to enable farmers to make informed decisions regarding their on-farm biosecurity
management. The objectives and options are based on national and international “best
practice” from both the regulatory and the aquaculture industry perspectives. These have been
shown to successfully prevent or manage the introduction, exacerbation or spread of pests and
pathogens on aquaculture facilities.

This document provides information to enable the uptake of effective on-farm biosecurity
management, including:
• suggested options to strengthen on-farm biosecurity management;
• identification of many, but not all, of the risk organisms associated with the species
within document scope; and
• ideas to help protect your business, sector, industry and the New Zealand aquatic
environment.

This document does not set prescriptive measures, practices, rules or requirements on farmers.

Biosecurity measures adopted by farmers should be practical and fit for purpose. The options
identified within this document represent a starting point for the implementation of general
on-farm biosecurity procedures for each farm based on their own site-specific conditions.
Ideally each individual biosecurity procedure should be implemented with the understanding
that it will work within a wider biosecurity plan.

Ministry for Primary Industries Options to Strengthen On-farm Biosecurity Management Aquaculture 1
2 Glossary
Anthelmintic
A substance that destroys or expels parasitic worms in the gut.

Antibiotic
A substance produced by a living organism that is capable of inhibiting the growth or
replication of bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance
The ability of bacteria to withstand exposure to an antibiotic.

Appropriate distance
Distance between aquaculture facilities taking into account water movement, occupancy of
registered facilities, and relevant epidemiological studies.

Aquaculture
• (a) means the breeding, hatching, cultivating, rearing, or ongrowing of fish, aquatic
life, or seaweed for harvest; and
• (b) includes the possession and ongrowing of harvestable spat; but
• (c) does not include an activity specified in paragraph (a) if the fish, aquatic life, or
seaweed—
• (i) is not in the exclusive and continuous possession or control of the fish
farmer; or
• (ii) cannot be distinguished or kept separate from naturally occurring fish,
aquatic life, or seaweed.

Aquaculture facility
A facility used for the culture or enhanced production of fish species. Facility may be
classified as open, semi-open, semi-closed or closed systems.

Aquatic animal health professional
A person who is authorised by the Competent Authority to carry out certain designated tasks
in a territory and has the appropriate qualifications and training to perform the designated
tasks.

Area-based management
A defined area in which aquaculture production and biosecurity processes are planned and co-
ordinated to reduce the risks posed by pathogens, parasites and pests which can be present in
the environment, in wild and farmed stock, and in other naturally occurring biota.

Audit
Independent examination to determine whether implemented activities comply with planned
objectives.

Autotrophic
Capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as nutrient sources and using
photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as energy sources.

Benthic
2 Options to Strengthen On-farm Biosecurity Management Aquaculture Ministry for Primary Industries
On or in the seabed.

Biofouling
Unwanted accumulation of aquatic organisms on both natural and artificial substrates,
including aquaculture stock and products (such as biofouling of mussel or oyster shells),
artificial infrastructure (including vessel hulls, rudders, propellers and other hull appendages),
internal seawater systems (including sea chests and pipe-work) or any submerged equipment
used in the industry.

Biosecurity
A set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of pests and
infectious diseases.

Biosecurity plan
A plan that identifies significant potential pathways for the introduction and spread of pests
and infectious diseases into an aquaculture facility, and describes the measures which are
being, or will be, applied to mitigate the risks to introduce and spread pests and disease. The
plan should also describe how these measures are audited, with respect to both their
implementation and their targeting, to ensure that the risks are regularly re-assessed and the
measures adjusted accordingly.

Biosecurity risk
Likelihood of occurrence of an adverse event and magnitude of consequences to the facility,
environment, human health or socio-cultural values.

Broodstock
An adult population of animals held until maturation to provide genetic material for the next
generation.

“Bus stop” deliveries
The practice of delivering stock, typically smolts, to more than one location from a single
supplier in one journey by transport vessel.

Carrier
An individual harbouring the specific organisms which can cause a disease. Carriers may be
either clinical or subclinical.

Chemotherapeutic
A chemical substance used for the prevention or treatment of disease.

Cleaning
The process of removing material, mineral or organic matter from equipment, personnel and
infrastructure.

Contingency plan
A documented work plan designed to ensure that all needed actions, requirements and
resources are provided in order to be undertaken in the occurrence of an emergency situation
(e.g. earthquake, storm damage, pest or disease incursion, flooding).

Critical control point
Any point within a process or area identified as being critical in limiting the spread of pests or
diseases.
Ministry for Primary Industries Options to Strengthen On-farm Biosecurity Management Aquaculture 3
Decontamination
A combination of physical and chemical procedures that are used to remove soiling and
inactivate the target disease organism. Includes all stages of cleaning and disinfection.

Defined area
For area-based management, this area should be specific to the locale taking into account
water movement, occupancy of registered aquaculture facilities, and relevant epidemiological
studies.

Depuration
To reduce the level of contaminants in live animals by the use of a managed aquatic
environment as the treatment process.

Destocking
The process of removing some or all live-stock from an aquaculture facility.

Disease
A pathological condition that presents a group of signs indicating the existence of an
abnormal histological or physiological entity.

Disease agent
A general term for a transmissible organism or other factor that causes an infectious disease.

Disease outbreak
Occurrence of disease in a group of animals, as opposed to individual cases.

Disinfectant
A substance which will destroy infective agents outside a living animal.

Disinfection
The application, after thorough cleaning, of procedures intended to destroy the infectious or
parasitic agents of animal diseases, including zoonoses. Applies to aquaculture facilities,
vehicles and other objects that may have been directly or indirectly contaminated.

Disposal
Sanitary removal of stock carcases, shells, equipment and associated material by burial,
burning or some other process so as to prevent the spread of pests and disease.

Ectoparasite
A parasite that lives on the external surface of the host.

Effluent
Material flowing from a pipe or facility into a body of water.

Egg
A viable fertilised ovum of an aquatic animal. ‘Green eggs’ means newly fertilised ova of
fish. ‘Eyed eggs’ means eggs of fish where the eyes of the embryo are visible and that the
eggs may be transported.

Endoparasite
A parasite that lives within the host.
4 Options to Strengthen On-farm Biosecurity Management Aquaculture Ministry for Primary Industries