AQUAPLAN - Australia’s National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health 1998–2003.

Aquaplan - Australia’s National Strategic Plan for Aquatic Animal Health 1998–2003 is a broad, comprehensive strategy that outlines objectives and projects to develop a national approach to emergency preparedness and response and to the overall management of aquatic animal health in Australia. Aquaplan comprises eight key programs under which government and private sectors have identified priority projects to achieve the program objectives. The eight key Aquaplan; programs are: 1) International Linkages; 2) Quarantine; 3) Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting; 4) Preparedness and Response; 5) Awareness; 6) Research and Development; 7) Legislation, Policies and Jurisdiction; 8) Resources and Funding.
Program 1, International Linkages aims at promoting and defend Australia’s international trade interests in aquatic animals and their products, by improving Australia’s international trade status as a responsible importer and exporter of aquatic animals and products and increasing Australia’s international influence in establishing international and regional standards and guidelines through providing technical and scientific leadership. Program 2, Quarantine, aims at reviewing all quarantine policies for aquatic animals and aquatic animal products using a science based, consultative and transparent risk analysis process, reviewing and improving post-arrival quarantine procedures and operations, and meet documented international requirements relating to the export of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products. Program 3, Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting, aims to consolidate information on and protect Australia’s aquatic animal health status, by facilitating the detection and reporting of, and response to, aquatic animal disease outbreaks; facilitating the enhancement of existing, and development of additional, national and interstate disease control programs and zoning policies; supporting Australia’s international disease reporting obligations to OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health); supporting regional disease reporting to the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA). Program 4, Prepardeness and Resposne, aims to develop effective institutional arrangements to manage emergency aquatic animal diseases in Australia and to develop a series of manuals and operational instruments which outline methods and protocols to manage emergency aquatic disease outbreaks in Australia (AQUAVETPLAN), based on the existing AUSVETPLAN arrangement. Program 5, Awareness, aims to increase awareness of aquatic animal health issues, by providing education and training resources for all industry stakeholders and the general public; encouraging the development of training and extension services in State and Territory Fisheries Departments and within industry peak body associations; encouraging the development of aquatic animal health management practices which decrease the reliance on drugs and chemicals ensuring their appropriate and minimal use.