Projects

Strengthening regional mechanisms to maximize benefits to small-holder shrimp farmer groups adopting BMPs

This ACIAR-supported project will promote the development and dissemination of BMPs that will assist small holder farmers. A robust regional mechanism for networking and exchange of information on BMPs will be established. The development of a BMP section of the NACA website has been undertaken as an initiative under this project.

Improving capability for shrimp virus PCR testing laboratories in Vietnam

The objective of this ACIAR funded project is to improve delivery of PCR screening performance and enhance reliability of shrimp production for small-holder farmers in Vietnam. The project will adapt an approach developed and applied in India and Indonesia under an earlier ACIAR Project (FIS02/075). This involves a strategy of linking targeted training for service laboratory technicians from the government and private sectors with coordinated inter-laboratory calibrations of PCR testing performance. The approach has been very successful In India, resulting in unprecedented cooperation between PCR laboratories and government agencies, institutionalisation of the training and inter-calibration strategy, and well developed plans for a national PCR laboratory registration and accreditation program. The project will impact directly and immediately on capacity in PCR testing laboratories in Vietnam and provide government and industry with a foundation for laboratory regulation and performance monitoring. CSIRO, Australia will coordinate the implementation of the project in cooperation with NACA and national institutions in Vietnam.

Operationalize Guidelines on Responsible Movement of Live Food Finfish in ASEAN

This project funded by AusAid under the AADCP-RPS program contributed to the enhancement of biosecurity of live food finfish industries in ASEAN Member Countries. The project facilitated the development by ASEAN of harmonized standard operating procedures (SOPs) for health certification and quarantine measures for trans-boundary movement of live food finfish. These SOPs are a set of documents for health certification and quarantine measures to be used by Competent Authorities for the responsible movement of live food finfish by land, sea and air among ASEAN Member Countries. The project was coordinated by ASEC, NACA and AusVet for Cardno ACIL who manage the AADCP:RPS program for ASEC and AusAID.

Strengthening Aquatic Animal Health Capacity and Biosecurity in ASEAN

The project enhanced the capability of ASEAN member countries to implement ASEAN harmonized national aquatic animal health strategies to manage risks to the biosecurity of fisheries industries particularly those related to trade and impacting on the poor. Guidelines were prepared for ASEAN members on harmonized aquatic animal health and biosecurity strategies within ASEAN, including an operational strategy for their implementation. Technical support was provided to 4 ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam) for development of national aquatic animal health and biosecurity strategies. Capacity of personnel from ASEAN in epidemiology, surveillance, risk analysis and contingency planning was enhanced. A strong network of aquatic animal health workers within ASEAN was established. The project was coordinated by NACA, ASEC and AusVet for Cardno ACIL who manage the AADCP:RPS program for ASEC and AusAID. Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute (AAHRI), Thailand and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Australia provided technical support.

Application of PCR for improved shrimp health management in the Asian region

This ACIAR supported project primarily focused on India, Thailand and Indonesia with three major components and addressed research issues relating to the effective use of PCR for shrimp disease management through the application of population-based and molecular epidemiological methods. The project also provided technical training in PCR-based diagnosis and assisted in PCR test harmonization and laboratory accreditation. Key partners include CSIRO in Australia; MPEDA, CIBA and College of Fisheries, Mangalore in India; Mahidol University, BIOTEC in Thailand, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Indonesia and NACA. The report of the PCR training workshops is available for download.