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Bio-security and Health Management in AquacultureC.V. MohanNetwork of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, Suraswadi Building,Department of Fisheries, Kasetsart University CampusBangkok 10900, ThailandAbstractIntensive aquaculture practices tend to provide a platform for the emergence of serious pathogens, while globaltrade in live aquatic animals and their products offer avenues for trans-boundary spread of pathogens. To ensuregood bio-security plan at the national level it is very important that countries establish and implement practicalnational aquatic animal health strategies. Implementation of a comprehensive national aquatic animal healthstrategy would significantly assist in minimizing the impact of aquatic animal diseases and prevent introduction ofexotic pathogens to the country. Farm level Biosecurity refers to approaches taken to prevent, control anderadicate serious diseases of concern to the cultured species. Biosecurity measures implemented at the farm levelshould have the broad objective of preventing the entry, establishment, proliferation and spread of dangerouspathogens. Farm level biosecurity can be broadly defined as sets of standard practice that will reduce theprobability of pathogen introduction to the culture system, its amplification in the culture environment and culturedhost leading to disease outbreak and subsequent spread. To achieve, fool proof bio-security, it is necessary tounderstand all the routes by which the pathogen gains entry into culture units and the farm level componentcauses (risk factors) which favor its amplification to levels sufficient to cause disease outbreaks.IntroductionGlobally, capture and culture fisheries contribute significantly towards food security, poverty alleviation, economicdevelopment and supporting livelihoods. The global aquaculture production in 2006 was estimated at 56.7 milliontones, valued at 86.2 billion USD. Aquaculture contributes approximately 50-55 percent of the global food fishconsumption and this sector is the fastest growing food producing sector. Over 92 percent of aquacultureproduction occurs in Asia, dominated by smallholder farmers. In most nations in Asia the contribution fromaquaculture to the GDP has by-passed that from capture fisheries, and continues to be so. Asian small-scaleaquaculture has the potential to meet the growing global demand for food fish and to contribute to the growth ofnational economies, at the same time providing support to sustainable livelihoods of many rural communities,contributing significantly to food security and poverty alleviation. The sustainability of the small-scale aquaculturesector is socially and economically important to many countries in Asia, including India. However, with increasingimpacts of globalization small-scale aquaculture farmers need access to scientific knowledge, financial andtechnical services and market information in order to sustain their livelihoods and compete in modern marketchains. The demand for quality and responsibly produced and certified aquaculture products is predicted toincrease substantially in coming years. Present market trends are imposing several constrains on smallaquaculture farmers and the social and economic implications of current direction in many rural communities areexpected to be potentially severe. It is generally accepted that aquaculture needs to be developed in a mannerthat is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. There are several challenges that need to beholistically addressed in order to promote sustainable aquaculture development. The present paper focuses onjust one of the challenges - aquatic animal health.International tradeIntensive aquaculture practices tend to provide a platform for the emergence of serious pathogens, while globaltrade in live aquatic animals and their products offer avenues for trans-boundary spread of pathogens. The risk of15