The Aquatic Animal Health Policy and Implementation Plan addresses only diseases and pathogens of aquatic animals. Human diseases and pathogens are not addressed in this document.

Successful aquaculture of any species depends upon the control of infectious diseases. Communicable diseases have been responsible for devastating mortality in cultured fish and shellfish. These diseases are of great economic importance and often result in serious financial loss and includes not only the market value of the fish which die in an epizootic, but extends to the cost of replacement of stocks, the cost of disease eradication and/or containment, loss of markets to competitors and reduction in tourism where a sport fishery is affected. Control of certain diseases can be accomplished by the use of chemicals, antibiotics, therapeutants or bacterins. These substances which can control disease, also add to the cost of production.

Given the necessity of movements of fish and/or their eggs, and the possibility of introducing infectious diseases with them, policies to avoid the dissemination of fin and shellfish pathogens are required. The development of policies regulating the movement of animals has precedence in the agriculture industry where laws concerning import and export of livestock and poultry have been effective in controlling the spread of disease in these animals.

As policies to avoid the introduction of infectious disease among populations of fish are developed, there are other aspects to be considered. There is a need to make them sufficiently flexible to accommodate special situations. Changes in disease control policies will be necessary as scientific data accumulates on the understanding of methods of fish disease transmission, the development of more precise diagnostic procedures, the definition of geographic and host range of certain pathogens, and the description of new pathogens. There should also be a commitment to compliance and enforcement of any regulation. It must be understood that just a few diseased animals may be sufficient to destroy an entire stock of aquatic animals or contaminate an entire watershed. Continued surveillance and vigilance are necessary to avoid the introduction of infectious diseases. This surveillance will require involvement of personnel in the laboratories of several State agencies as well as those from the industry itself.

The Maryland Aquatic Animal Health Policy and Implementation Plan addresses the programs that will be needed for an effective fin and shellfish disease control and export product certification strategy.

The proposed infrastructure consists of the following levels, each of which involves delivery of fish health services and the transfer of pertinent information. Briefly, each level is as follows:

a. First response: The best first response is performed by a responsible on-site individual familiar with the history of the facility. This individual collects and records pertinent information and samples. These can be submitted to the appropriate laboratories for analysis.

b. Follow-up: Performed by trained aquatic animal health inspectors with an emphasis on rapid and accurate response.

c. Health Care Maintenance: Many facilities benefit from long term monitoring and management of life support systems.

d. Epidemiology: Epidemiologic surveys should be anticipated to control general or regional outbreaks of significant disease.

To accomplish the establishment of a response network for aquatic animal health the roles of support agencies and institutions are outlined. Maryland is fortunate to have both a well established and an evolving system of laboratory facilities and services that can be available in support of the aquaculture industry. Included in these are laboratories of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Department of the Environment, Maryland Environmental Service, U of Maryland, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in nearby West Virginia. The implementation plan outlines the various services available from the respective laboratories.

Oversight pertaining to the policy and plan will be provided through an Aquatic Animal Health Board consisting of seven members, four of whom are appointed by the Governor and one each by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Natural Resources and the Chancellor of the University of Maryland.

(1) 2 members who are private aquaculture producers

(2) 1 member who is a private aquatic animal heath specialist

(3) 1 member representing the University of Maryland

(4) 1 member representing the Department of Natural Resources

(5) 1 member representing the Department of Agriculture

(6) 1 member Aat large@

The Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture shall each designate a fish health officer who will implement the policy and resulting recommendations of the Board.

Included in the implementation plan is a Model Aquatic Animal Health Regulation. The regulation addresses diseases which are of economic importance to aquatic animals in either an aquaculture setting or in the wild.

Finally, the plan addresses a Directed Approach of Appropriate Education, Training, and Research Programs. The development and continuation of these programs will necessitate identification of appropriate physical and economic resources. This phase of the plan will continue to be an evolving process due to the dynamic nature of aquatic animal health programs in response to industry needs.