U.S. Commercial Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS)

At the request of the National Aquaculture Association (NAA), APHIS Veterinary Services began working with NAA representatives to draft Commercial Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS). These program standards establish a voluntary nonregulatory framework for the improvement and verification of the health of farmed aquatic animals produced in U.S. commercial aquaculture industry sectors.  CAHPS is based on 5 principles intended to provide for early disease detection, surveillance, reporting and response for the control of aquatic animal pathogens-especially those listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-and to prevent pathogen dissemination via movement and trade of aquatic animals.

The five principles of CAHPS are Aquatic Animal Health Team; Risk Characterization and Management; Surveillance; Investigation and Reporting; and Response.

CAHPS will support various aquatic animal sectors and business objectives including efforts to improve health management, protect and expand aquaculture business opportunities, promote and facilitate trade, as well as efforts to improve resource protection and environmental sustainability.  CAHPS may also be incorporate into existing standards or guidelines for aquatic animal health and management, such as hatchery certification or zonation models currently under development to assist shellfish regional health management and trade.  Example applications from the east coast region will be discussed.