Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevented by Aquaculture ... - ICAIS

Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevented by Aquaculture, Baitfish Operations
Fish News, 03 May 2013
http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/20140/aquatic-invasive-species-spread-prevented-byaquaculture-baitfish-operations
US – The baitfish and aquaculture industries have been proactive in preventing the
spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) through training programmes and implementing
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans that are specific to their
industries.
At the International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Michigan
State University Extension / Michigan Sea Grant Extension educator, Ron Kinnunen presented
a paper in a session on Live Bait Pathway.
Mr Kinnunen and his coauthor of the paper, Jeff Gunderson (Minnesota Sea Grant), are both
Seafood HACCP certified instructors, and used this programme to develop training materials to
prevent the spread of AIS through baitfish and aquaculture operations.
The potential exists for AIS to spread to uninfested waters through the transport of wild
harvested baitfish and aquacultured fish. Baitfish and aquaculture industries are diverse and
complex, as are their risks of spreading AIS. Most industry segments pose no or very low risk of
spreading AIS.
To deal effectively and fairly with this potential vector, it is important to characterise the industry
according to their risks of spreading AIS. Without adequate risk assessment of individual
operations, regulations could be imposed which would unnecessarily negatively impact the
economy of these industries and still not effectively reduce the risk of spreading AIS.
One approach to this problem is to apply the HACCP concept similar to that used by the
seafood industry to minimise seafood consumption health risks. The advantages of this system
are that it can effectively deal with a diverse industry, it has proven to be a good partnership
between industry and government regulators, and when properly applied it is effective.
The HACCP approach concentrates on the points in the process that are critical to the safety of
the product, minimises risks, and stresses communication between regulators and the industry.
The baitfish and aquaculture industries have been proactive in using the HACCP approach to
prevent the spread of AIS by participating in training programmes and implementing HACCP
plans that are specific to their operations.
Personnel from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries and Oceans Canada
also presented a paper that discussed how AIS-HACCP is a requirement for the commercial
baitfish industry in Ontario. In addition, another paper at this conference presented by faculty

from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff discussed how AIS-HACCP is a requirement for
the Arkansas Certified Commercial Bait and Ornamental Fish Programme.
Mr Kinnunen and Nick Phelps (University of Minnesota) have received notification that a
proposal they submitted to the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center will be funded to
conduct additional Aquaculture Biosecurity/AIS-HACCP workshops in the North Central Region
of the US in the next two years.
As part of this project, they will also be working with the baitfish/aquaculture industry and state
regulators on exploring a third party verification program for AIS-HACCP.