AQUAPLAN is Australia’s national strategic plan for aquatic animal health. It sets out national priorities for collaborative actions to strengthen Australia’s aquatic animal health management systems.
These systems are critically important to improve the productivity and profitability of aquatic animal industries (including aquaculture, fisheries and ornamental fish sectors) and to protect our unique aquatic environments from the threat of disease.
AQUAPLAN 2022–2027
AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 is Australia’s fourth national strategic plan for aquatic animal health.
Collaboratively developed and implemented by industry and governments, AQUAPLAN 2022-2027 aims to improve Australia’s aquatic animal health system by addressing 7 objectives:
- Border biosecurity and trade
- Enterprise and regional biosecurity
- Surveillance
- Diagnostic capability
- Emergency preparedness
- Veterinary medicines
- Research and Innovation.
Each objective will be pursued through a number of defined activities. In total the plan has 28 activities across its seven objectives. Copies of AQUAPLAN 2022-2027 and its associated implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and communication and engagement plans are available to view and download from the table below.
Download
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 | PDF 4.4 MB |
| AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 | DOCX 2.8 MB |
| AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 Implementation plan | PDF 63 KB |
| AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 Monitoring and evaluation plan | PDF 54 KB |
| AQUAPLAN 2022–2027 Communication and engagement plan | PDF 69 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Progress snapshot
In total the plan has 28 activities across its 7 objectives.
| Yet to commence | In-progress | Complete | On-hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
Activity updates
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Two-way engagement on import policy and decision-making processes. | In progress. | Expected outcome: Increased stakeholder understanding of, and engagement with, import policy setting processes, including risk analyses. Progress: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has drafted a program schedule in consultation with industry representatives from the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association and the Australian Prawn Farmers Association. |
| 1.2 | R&D strategic priorities for aquatic risk analyses and import policies. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Strategic research priorities are identified to address significant gaps in aquatic animal health knowledge to inform import biosecurity policies. Progress: To be informed by activity 1.1. |
| 1.3 | Strategic approach to meet technical requirements and support market access. | In progress. | Expected outcome: A strategic approach to address technical market access opportunities and vulnerabilities is developed collaboratively by industries and governments. Progress: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has prepared a project plan. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Enterprise biosecurity plan writing workshops. | In progress. | Expected outcome: Workshop attendees have developed or refined an enterprise biosecurity plan that is specific to their business. Progress: Included in the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation November 2022 Investment Opportunities and Open call for R&D. Applications were due 1 February 2023. |
| 2.2 | Enterprise biosecurity plan implementation support program. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Farm managers have worked with subject-matter experts to refine their biosecurity plan and solve challenges in implementing the plan. Progress: To be informed by activity 2.1. |
| 2.3 | Evaluating and improving enterprise biosecurity plans. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Farm managers and other interested industry members have been trained in tools to evaluate the effectiveness of their biosecurity plan and improve and adapt the plan over time to meet changing risks. Progress: To be informed by activities 2.1 and 2.2. |
| 2.4 | Translocation of broodstock and genetic material. | In progress. | Expected outcome: Opportunities, needs, and barriers to domestic translocation of high value animals and genetic material have been clarified, and options for developing a national approach to domestic translocation have been identified. Progress: Industry and government representatives have discussed the approach to this activity and a joint workshop is anticipated mid-2023. |
| 2.5 | Review current approaches for managing ornamental fish in Australia. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Aquatic animal health issues are considered in the review of the ‘strategic approach to the management of ornamental fish in Australia’ and where appropriate, the strategy is revised to support sound management of aquatic animal health risks associated with ornamental fish. Progress: Yet to be commenced. |
| 2.6 | National ornamental fish communication campaign. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Target stakeholder groups have an increased understanding of the disease risks posed by ornamental fish species in Australia and have the information available to help them take greater responsibility for effectively managing those risks. Progress: Yet to be commenced. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | National surveillance strategy. | In progress. | Expected outcome: A national surveillance strategy is developed that guides how investors in aquatic animal health surveillance will strengthen the system and address changing needs and technologies. Progress: An industry-government writing group has been established to guide drafting of the strategy. A draft strategy has been prepared based on the discussion paper provided to industry and governments, and its collated responses, and is continuing to be refined. |
| 3.2 | Sector-specific surveillance plans. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Interested industry sectors have identified and prioritised their surveillance objectives (including data sharing) in cooperation with governments and have a plan for how they will achieve these. Progress: To be informed by activity 3.1. |
| 3.3 | Sensitivity of the passive surveillance system. | In progress. | Expected outcome: The sensitivity of passive surveillance is quantified for an example sector and disease as a pilot study, and strengths and weaknesses of the system are identified. Progress: Two aquatic animal disease agents of trade and biosecurity significance – white spot syndrome virus and megalocytiviruses – will be evaluated as case studies using scenario tree modelling. Refer to FRDC project 2019-193. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Assess the future needs of Australia’s diagnostic system. | In progress. | Expected outcome: The capability and capacity of Australia’s diagnostic system for aquatic animal diseases is assessed and the future needs of its end-users and service providers are identified. Progress: A project proposal to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation has been assessed in consultation with the Sub-Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH). |
| 4.2 | Technical guidelines for validation of aquatic animal disease diagnostic tests. | In progress. | Expected outcome: National technical guidelines for validation of aquatic animal disease molecular diagnostic tests are developed. Progress: A team of experts has been formed to draft the technical guidelines. A draft is expected to be available for review in January 2024. |
| 4.3 | Diagnostic accuracy studies for priority aquatic animal diseases. | In progress. | Expected outcome: The validation status of priority aquatic animal disease diagnostic tests is identified, and diagnostic accuracy studies are conducted for prioritised tests. Progress: A project plan is being developed by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in consultation with key collaborators. |
| 4.4 | Novel and emerging diagnostic methods. | On hold. | Expected outcome: New and emerging diagnostic methods are prioritised for further assessment based on their suitability to address the needs of Australia’s aquatic animal health management system, and where warranted, national guidelines are developed for their evaluation, interpretation, and use. Progress: A literature review of novel and emerging diagnostic methods is on hold. Awaiting further resources to continue. |
| 4.5 | Improve Neptune and its database. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome:Neptune’s database is enhanced to incorporate additional content and is promoted within the aquatic animal health community to increase access and contributions to its resources. Progress: Yet to be commenced. For information on Neptune visit the Diagnostic capability and resources page. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | National priority aquatic animal disease list. | Complete. | Expected outcome: Priority aquatic animal diseases have been identified and agreed by industry and governments. A priority disease list has been developed. Progress: The national priority aquatic animal disease was endorsed by aquatic animal industries and governments in June 2023. The final endorsed list is available on the department’s website. |
| 5.2 | Biosecurity action plans for priority aquatic animal diseases. | In progress. | Expected outcome: Biosecurity action plans have been collaboratively developed for each priority disease, and gaps identified where resources need to be applied to improve preparedness or risk mitigation. Progress: A biosecurity action plan template has been developed. The first 4 action plans are expected to be drafted by June 2024. |
| 5.3 | Sector-specific simulation exercises. | In progress. | Expected outcome: A series of sector-specific simulation exercises have tested existing contingency planning arrangements and identified opportunities to strengthen arrangements. Progress: A national simulation exercise program has been established. Exercise FlyWheel (2023) was the first simulation exercise conducted under the program. It was in held collaboration with the barramundi industry. It aimed to test the technical response arrangements for an exotic disease outbreak. Refer to FRDC project 2021-048. |
| 5.4 | New or revised contingency planning arrangements. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: A work plan to review and revise existing AQUAVETPLAN manuals and develop new manuals or guidance documents (where they are prioritised) is developed and delivered. Progress: To be informed by activity 5.3. |
| 5.5 | Practical disease investigation guidelines for new and emerging diseases. | Complete. | Expected outcome: Practical disease investigation guidelines are developed that outline the investigation process for new and emerging aquatic animal diseases. Progress: The ‘Outbreak!’ handbook presents guidelines to use in the event of a disease outbreak in aquatic animals including finfish, molluscs and crustaceans. Helps stakeholders understand if a disease event is an outbreak, what may be causing the disease, what controls to apply and ideally, how to prevent future outbreaks. The handbook and its associated e-learning modules are available to view and download from the Agriculture Victoria webiste. Refer to FRDC project 2021-061. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Understand existing veterinary medicine use. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: A cross-sectoral survey is undertaken to better understand veterinary medicine use and priorities across the aquaculture industry. Progress: yet to be commenced. |
| 6.2 | Aquatic animal minor use permit applications. | In progress. | Expected outcome: A nationally coordinated approach to facilitate applications for aquatic animal minor use permit applications to the APVMA and to maintain existing permits and registrations. Progress: The project secured funding for 2 minor use permit (MUP) projects in 2022 and 3 MUP projects in 2023. It has successfully helped to renew another 32 MUPs, reducing loss of access for industry. It has decreased duplication of MUPs through increased data sharing and prioritisation of MUP projects that improve access for multiple industries and uses. Industry guidelines on available MUPs and registrations have been distributed nationally. A business plan is being developed in consultation with stakeholders to support ongoing national coordination. Refer to FRDC project 2020-094. |
| 6.3 | Establish antimicrobial resistance baselines for aquaculture sectors. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Baseline AMR data is established for interested sectors within the Australian aquaculture industry. The importance and key benefits of AMR surveillance in aquaculture are communicated with industry in an effective and collaborative manner. Progress: yet to be commenced. |
| Activity | Short title | Status | Expected outcome and progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Research priority setting, engagement, and communication. | In progress. | Expected outcome: An efficient research priority setting, engagement, and communication process is collaboratively developed. Progress: A project plan is being drafted by the activity lead (FRDC Aquatic Animal Health and Biosecurity Coordination Program). |
| 7.2 | Extension and adoption of aquatic animal health research. | Yet to commence. | Expected outcome: Barriers to and opportunities for extension and adoption inform research development and extension system improvements that ensure that research is not considered complete until it is extended by end-users, and opportunities for adoption identified, maximising return on investment. Progress: Yet to be commenced. |
| 7.3 | AQUAPLAN webinar series. | In progress. | Expected outcome: A webinar series is delivered for Australia’s aquatic animal health community that provides meaningful engagement and extension opportunities for AQUAPLAN activities. Progress: Four webinars were held in 2022–2023. Webinars on “Exercise Flywheel” (9 November 2023) and “International developments in aquatic animal health” (29 November 2023) were held in 2023-2024. |
The guiding principles of AQUAPLAN
AQUAPLAN provides a shared vision for industry and governments to prioritise investment to strengthen the aquatic animal health system. It is a mechanism for industry and governments to collaborate on issues of shared importance, while acknowledging that issues of importance for individual parties can continue to be addressed outside of AQUAPLAN.
In addition to the industry-government collaboration that has been at the core of AQUAPLAN’s success, its development has followed some agreed guiding principles:
- The plan addresses common national priorities
- It focuses on strategic issues that will provide enduring benefit to the management of aquatic animal health nationally
- Its objectives and activities have defined, achievable outcomes.
Previous AQUAPLANs and AQUAPLAN reviews
AQUAPLAN 1998–2003 represented a world first in industry–government collaboration to develop a national strategic approach to aquatic animal health. Its success set the trajectory for development of AQUAPLAN 2005–2010 and AQUAPLAN 2014–2019. Together, these 3 plans have built and improved almost all aspects of Australia’s highly regarded systems for managing aquatic animal health.
Copies of AQUAPLAN 1998–2003, AQUAPLAN 2005–2010, and AQUAPLAN 2014-2019, and their respective reviews are available to view and download from the table below.
Download
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 PDF | 4.6 MB |
| AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 DOC | 852 KB |
| Review of AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 PDF | 526 KB |
| Review of AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 DOCX | 389 KB |
| AQUAPLAN 2005–2010 PDF | 4.3 MB |
| Review of AQUAPLAN 2005–2010 PDF | 2.6 MB |
| Review of AQUAPLAN 2005–2010 DOC | 430 KB |
| AQUAPLAN 1998–2003 PDF | 1.6 MB |
| Review of AQUAPLAN 1998–2003 PDF | 1.5 MB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
For more information on AQUAPLAN please contact the AQUAPLAN Executive Office at: aquaplan@aff.gov.au.