Application of the OIE PVS Tool to Aquatic Animal Health Services

摘要

Aquatic animal production based on aquaculture is growing exponentially, and has during the last 5-10 years already surpassed catch fisheries, measured in volume production, in many of the major seafood-producing countries worldwide. Aquaculture production represents today an essential asset to the income of developing and in-transition countries, and is an important alternative protein source to terrestrial animal production, assuring food security in a world in which protein sources are under continuous pressure. The potential of aquaculture production to expand and support the growing protein needs of the developing and in-transition countries is dependent on good governance.Intensive production systems and large volumes in limited geographical water systems are putting pressure on animal health, animal welfare and food safety. Aquaculture is expanding, and new species are continually being introduced into farming. Aquatic animal health is a relatively new veterinary field, and new and emerging diseases are being discovered at a very rapid rate.Following the first World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Global Aquatic Animal Health Conference held in Norway in 2006, the OIE followed up on the recommendations to support good governance of aquatic animal health services by expanding the OIE Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Tool to include good governance of aquatic animal health services.The OIE PVS evaluation should become an important asset for countries intending to build good aquatic animal health governance. It is also important that there is collaboration among the OIE, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank and donors to ensure that there are good incentives to request an OIE PVS aquatic evaluation and to ensure that financial support is based on sound considerations of an individual country's structure and needs.