INTERRELATED ISSUES OF BIOSECURITY IN ROMANIAN FISH PRODCTION FACILITIES

Abstract

Worldwide, aquaculture is the fastest growing agri-industry. Globally, opportunities
exist to introduce or explore alternative species, new strains or highly selected
stocks that represent substantial appeal to aquaculture. Movement of these products
and organisms presents challenges to resolve potential interactions with the native
ecology, the transfer of diseases to either freshwater fish culture or wild stocks and
the potential transfer of contaminants or pathogens of concern for human food
safety. The actual biosecurity culture at the majority Romanian fish farm facilities is
one of indifference, denial and avoidance; a true “it won’t happen to me” mentality.
The formation and changes of attitudes and behaviors within the environment at a
place of business has to be done top-down, from managers to laborers. There are
numerous potential sources of entry for an infectious agent into an aquaculture
facility. These include additions of new stocks as: embryoned eggs, larvae, fry,
juvenile and broodstock. Contaminated water or feed, humans, animals or
equipment, and sub clinical (asymptomatic) carriers within the existing stock
(production fish or broodstock) might be other sources. General biosecurity
measures need to be established for each facility to help support the activities of
both disease prevention and disease control. A manual of standard operating
procedures should be assembled to provide a set of standard rules for biosecurity
measures and disease monitoring. The implementation of a specific biosecurity
protocol might change the culture to better suit the aquaculture business and its
goals.