Aquaculture has become a rapidly expanding sector in animal production, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable protein sources. Yet, fish diseases pose ongoing challenges, requiring innovative control strategies to optimize aquaculture productivity. The Aquae Strength project was launched to strengthen fish disease management and enhance GIS capabilities for effective disease surveillance and response. The initiative spans multiple beneficiary institutions across regions from North Africa to the Indochinese Peninsula.
The Aquae Strength project, titled “Strengthening Capacity on Aquatic Animal Health and Epidemiological Surveillance”, focuses on key objectives aligned with WOAH’s Aquatic Animal Health Strategy. Led by a consortium of seven Italian institutes - namely, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZSVe, IZSSA, IZSPLV, IZSAM, IZSLT, IZSUM, and IZSM) - and three international advisory partners from the UK (Cefas), Denmark (DTU), and Norway (NVI), the project began with online webinars that introduced stakeholders to its core topics. Following this, the project team conducted in-person evaluations of diagnostic capacities for fish pathogens in each beneficiary country. These assessments, comprising tailored questionnaires, farm and laboratory visits, and discussions with local teams, identified critical gaps to guide the project’s next steps.
Key intervention areas focus on enhancing diagnostic capabilities, promoting responsible Veterinary Medicinal Product (VMP) use, engaging veterinary services in outbreak management, and developing an official farm registry. Notably, differences in diagnostic capacities and VMP management among the beneficiary countries were observed, as well as a need for clearer roles for veterinary services during outbreaks. The project team also advocated for diagnostic laboratories to implement antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The absence of an official fish farm registry and limited diagnostic facilities pose challenges to epidemiological evaluation and traceability, which are crucial for these countries seeking to establish EU trade compliance in animal health and food safety.
Training was tailored to the unique needs of each stakeholder, taking place both in beneficiary countries and within the consortium’s laboratories. By enhancing fish health management and disease response, the project contributes to food safety, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Supporting these nations’ aquaculture sectors unlocks the full potential of aquatic resources, making the Aquae Strength project a key international effort in building a sustainable and resilient aquaculture industry aligned with the One Health approach.