APPROACH TO AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE SETTINGS

In 2016, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule to implement a regional permitting program to manage the development of aquaculture in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The program was proposed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council through a regional Fishery Management Plan developed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The final rule authorizes NOAA Fisheries to issue permits to grow finfish species such as red drum, cobia, and Almaco jack in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico for an initial period of 10 years. The permit process includes comprehensive safeguards to ensure healthy oceans and coasts including aquatic animal health management. The final rule requires that the permit applicant address several important elements of aquatic animal health, including: contracting with an aquatic animal health expert, certifying healthy animals prior to stocking, and timely reporting (within 24 hours) and responding to pathogens of concern as directed by NOAA Fisheries and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). NOAA Fisheries is developing web-based tools for submission of health certificates and disease reporting to help facilitate these activities.

In addition, NOAA Fisheries is collaborating with APHIS Veterinary Services to develop optional guidance for permit applicants to assist them with management of aquatic animal health issues. A key element is to involve a veterinarian who can assist with assessing the risks of disease and design an appropriate aquatic animal health management plan. The veterinarian should be licensed in the U.S., accredited by APHIS, and have a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship with the permit holder/facility. These credentials are required for health certification for movement of fish and for other veterinary activities (e.g., use of drugs under Veterinary Feed Directive, extra-label use of veterinary pharmaceuticals). The aquatic animal health plan should address several critical topics such as training and communication, biosecurity measures, disease detection and mitigation, biomonitoring and surveillance, disease reporting, disease investigation and cleaning and disinfection. These elements are in-line with the USDA APHIS-National Aquaculture Association Commercial Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS) thus giving the permit holders/facilities the opportunity to being recognized as a CAHPS facility. The overall approach presented here in managing aquatic animal health in offshore aquaculture endeavors is likely to serve as a template for other U.S. offshore regions.