58 June 2012 outbreaks do not occur if shrimp defense mechanisms manage to contain low-intensity viral infections under low-stress culture conditions (Tsai et al. 1999). There is a trail of solid research on the mechanisms of cryptic virus infections, inasmuch as immune memory is wanting in India. The Proposed National Agricultural Biosecurity Network In view of the emerging concerns for biosecurity, the National Institute of Advance studies, Bangalore and M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai organized a discussion meeting on the development of a national agenda towards biosecurity. The development of a National Agricultural Biosecurity Network will serve as a coordinating and facilitating scientific partnership between various institutions and the establishment of a knowledge center that will act primarily as a “think tank” for future agricultural development and emerging biosecurity threats. Literacy drives towards biosecurity, a focused threat / risk analysis followed by capacity building in diagnosis and preparedness, developing emergency action plans and establishing a single integrated National Biosecurity Center were also discussed (Anonymous 2007). Promising Approaches and Recommendations A lackadaisical approach to biosecurity can have a deleterious effect on the overall health of existing farmed whiteleg shrimp populations but there are examples of how to do it right. Australia has successfully kept many pathogens, including WSSV, out of the country by adhering to strict principles of biosecurity, quarantine and health certification (Tabar 2010). The outcome of the work conducted in India, with support from MPEDA (India) and ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research), showed small-scale shrimp farms can improve productivity and reduce the risk of crop loss through disease control programs, achieved by providing access to science-based disease control principles, promoting local aquaclubs to facilitate cooperation and communicating best management practices (BMPs) to a wider group of farmers, collectively addressing health management problems (Padiyar et al. 2003). Building awareness and capacity of farmers on farm-level biosecurity concepts certainly should have been taken up as a priority even with small farmers long before. Lapses in farm-level biosecurity are commonly seen at every stage of culture operations in many Asian countries (Mohan et al. 2005). To effectively promote adoption of biosecurity principles, it is essential to understand the socio-economic background and mindset of farmers. Extending this concept to a wider area, however, poses considerable challenges (Mohan et al. 2005). A possible way forward should include collective approaches and facilitating farmer-to-farmer interaction through self-help groups and voluntary associations. To be successful, this approach must be implemented within an institutional government / private sector framework that allows the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on a wider scale (Mohan et al. 2005). Building support for new exotic transboundary L.vannamei shrimp biosecurity regulations among small farmers is the crux of the issue. A new site-specific instrumental code of Indian biosecure practice guidelines should be researched and implemented for monitoring successive filial generations of domesticated L. vannamei stocks in Indian waters. India should make an exemplary effort to fulfill its responsibility to implement the provisions of an adapted transboundary biosecurity code despite limited resources and capacities of the small scale farmers. We believe that a high-level interministerial body on exotic shrimp biosecurity profile audits within India should be formed. Representatives to this body should come from the relevant ministries of agriculture, fisheries, health, environment, forests and commerce. The mandate of the body will be to check the illegal aquatic animal trade and to conduct audit surveillance on relevant aquaculture authority agencies and assess their compliance with and implementation of responsible agriculture and fisheries development in India. Identifying knowledge gaps and, thereby, assisting in prioritizing future research direction and making health-promoting risk management decisions in the future is our goal. Indian scientific research must find an answer for the challenges ahead and knowledge requirements must be given a high priority. “What we sow, so we reap” is the maxim. Notes 1Aquaculture Specialist, 228 B, East of DVD School, Kottar, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India. oceanbiocare@gmail.com 2Assistant Professor, Faculty of Marine Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80207, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. drkitto@yahoo.com (corresponding author) References Anonymous. 2007. Setting up of a national agenda towards biosecurity, Current Science News 92(10):1330. Babu, M.M., M.R. Kitto and M. Peter Marian. 2001. Shrimping footprints in the sands of time. Current Science 81(1):11-12. Chinarong, A.and B.Y.Krishna. 2011. Emerging new market Vannamei culture in India. International Journal of Research Communication and Management 1(2):8-9. Flegel, T.W. 2006. The special danger of viral pathogens in shrimp translocated for aquaculture. Science Asia 32:215221. Mohan, C.V., F.Corsin and A.Padiyar. 2005. Farm-level biosecurity and white spot disease of shrimp. Aquaculture Health International, Issue 3:16-20. www.pattersonpeddie.com/AHI_03_ NOV_2005.pdf MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority). 2008. Newsletter. www.mpeda.com Padiyar, P.A., M.J.Phillips, M. Primphon, C.V.Mohan, B.V.Bhat, V.S.Rao, G.R.Babu, A.B. 2003. Chandra Mohan, G.N.Murthy and P.Chanratchakool. Extension in (Continued on page 71)
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