DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN COASTAL SHRIMP CULTURE

TCP/BGD/6714(A)

Field Document No. 4

TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN COASTAL SHRIMP CULTURE

BANGLADESH

Based on the work of

Dr. J. Richard Arthur

FAO Consultant on Quarantine and Health Certification

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Bangkok, July 1998

List of Acronyms

ICAAH - Interministerial Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (a committee proposed in this report)

OIE - Organisation International des Epizooties/World Animal Health Organization)

SPS Agreement - Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The consultant wishes to thank the following FAO staff for the logistical and briefing support required to complete this work: Dr. R.P. Subasinghe, FAO-HQ; Mr. H. Konuma and Dr. W. Shah, FAO Dhaka; and Ms. D. Blessich, FAO Regional Office, Bangkok.

The many courtesies extended by Mr. Md. Liaquat Ali, Director General, Department of Fisheries, and Mr. Md. Masudar Rahaman, Director (Marine) and staff are gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are given to DOF District Officers Dr. N.N. Das (Cox's Bazar), Mr. H.R. Khondaker (Satkhira) and Mr. Md. R. Karim (Khulna) and to their Thana Fisheries Officers for the excellent field support supplied during this mission. The many insights gained through collaboration with Dr. A.T.A. Ahmed (NCQ) are gratefully acknowledged.

1.0 Introduction

This report outlines issues and constraints relating to implementation of an aquatic animal quarantine and certification program for Bangladesh, and provides recommendations to FAO on long-term needs, with a view of developing a major proposal for possible donor funding. Annexes, prepared for FAO and the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries (DOF), provide recommendations to the Government of Bangladesh (G0B) for development of a comprehensive national policy aimed at preventing the introduction of exotic pathogens of aquatic animals (policy for the quarantine and certification of aquatic animals) (Annex I), and preliminary guidelines and recommendations towards the establishment of a national aquatic animal health, quarantine and certification program (Annex II). Additionally, a number of other issues arising from this consultancy in relation to Project TCP/BGD/6714(A) and regional activity TCP/RAS/6714(A) "Regional Programme for the Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia" are discussed.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for this consultancy (International Consultant on Quarantine and Certification, ICQ) are given in Annex III. A detailed itinerary, including institutes and organizations visited, personnel met, and matters discussed, is appended as Annex IV.

For project background material and more general information on shrimp culture in Bangladesh, readers are referred to Project Document TCP/BGD/6714 (A), the travel reports of Dr. R.P. Subasinghe dated 1 July 1997 and 1 January 1998, and the consultancy reports of Drs. S. Funge-Smith and S. Siriwardena. Additional information on aquaculture in Bangladesh as related to international disease transfer is also contained in Annex II of this report.

2.0 Items Related to Project Activities

2. 1 National Quarantine Workshop

A National Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Certification was organized by the DoF, with the assistance of the ICQ, the National Consultant on Quarantine (NCQ, Dr. A.T.A. Ahmed) and Mr. W. Shah, FAO Bangladesh. The workshop was held on 24 May at DOF Headquarters, Matshya Bhaban, Dhaka. Details of the workshop, including program and final recommendations, are given in Annex V. A technical paper giving an introduction to quarantine and certification for aquatic animals, including some brief remarks on his initial perspectives on the Bangladesh situation is provided in Annex V, Part B. This was followed by a second technical presentation given by the NCQ reviewing the national situation relative to the development of quarantine and certification (Annex V, Part C). Following these technical presentations, the NCQ presented a list of recommendations drawn up jointly by the two consultants, for consideration by the workshop participants. There followed a rather lengthy discussion, with the addition of several new recommendations by participants. The approved workshop recommendations were then reviewed and modified by DOF staff, producing the list of final recommendations given in Annex V, Part D.

The Technical and Discussion Sessions were attended by about 30 participants, the majority representing the DOF. Other sectors represented included the Directory of Livestock Services, the Plant Protection Wing (Plant Quarantine), the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, the Universities of Khulna and Dhaka, and several private operators of shrimp hatcheries and farms. The attendees participated keenly in the discussions, indicating a high level of interest in the workshop.

2.2 Participation in Project Training Program

During the field visit to Cox's Bazar, the ICQ had the opportunity to participate in a training session for fry collectors of Maheskhali Island given by DOF project staff. The training, conducted in Bengali, appeared to be well presented by project staff, and well received by the fry collectors. The effects of fry collection on marine fish populations have not been investigated; however, it has been mentioned that for each post-larval Penaeus monodon collected, each collector may destroy, on average, larvae or juveniles of 100 other aquatic animals. Given that each fry collector collects from 50-500 fry each day, and that there are an estimated 130,000 fry collectors working in Bangladesh, the numbers of larval and juvenile fish and shellfish killed by this activity may be considerable; however, the effects, real or potential, that fry collecting may have on natural stocks of fish and shellfish, including tiger shrimp, are unknown.

2.3 Collaboration with the National Consultant on Quarantine (NCQ)

During the consultancy, the ICQ worked closely with the NCQ on a daily basis to accomplish the TORs of both consultants. In consultation with the NCQ and FAO, additional activities to be undertaken by the NCQ during the second month of his consultancy were defined (see Annex VI).

Due to a delay in receiving approval, the NCQ was unable to accompany the ICQ during field travel to Mymesingh, and the Khulna, Satkhira and Cox's Bazar districts.

3.0 Items related to Regional Project TCP/RAS/6417(A)

3.1 Assistance to the National Co-ordinator (NC) for Bangladesh

During a visit to the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Freshwater Station (FS), Mymesingh, the consultant had the opportunity to discuss the status of the Bangladesh country component of the regional TCP project with Ms.Begum A. N. Hasna Barnu. Ms. Hasna Barnu represented Bangladesh (in the stead of the NC, Dr. M.A. Mazid, BFRI Director General) at the recent NACA/FAO/OIE regional meeting held in January 1998 in Bangkok.

The NC has received the diskette and installation instructions sent out by NACA, but the Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System (AAPQIS) data entry form had not yet been installed on the BFRI computers. The consultant attempted to install the system on computers in the FS fish disease laboratory and in the library; however, both machines lacked the necessary Microsoft Access subprogram of Microsoft Office. The computer of the NC has the necessary software; however, as he was not at the BFRI during the consultant's visit, we were unable to install the AAPQIS form. As BFRI does not own a copy of Microsoft Office, it is recommended that BFRI be provided with the necessary software, so that Ms. Hasna Barnu will be able to enter data using the computer available in her laboratory, her access to the DG's computer for data entry being limited. Internet access is relatively new in Bangladesh, and there are only two Internet connections available at BFRI facilities in Mymesingh, one in the office of the DG, and the other in the office of the Chief Scientific Officer, FS. In order that AAPQIS be accessible to fish health workers on a daily basis, it is recommended that an additional connection to be supplied for Ms. Hasna Barnu.

The consultant supplied Ms. Hasna Barnu with a copy of the draft bibliography of fish health literature for Bangladesh and the literature searches supplied by FAO, both on diskette. It was noted that in conducting literature searches, the FAO had used only the key word "disease". As this approach is likely to overlook many references relating to aquatic animal health, a more comprehensive literature search is recommended using a variety of health related terms (e.g., disease, pathology, parasites, bacteria, viruses, etc.), searched against various host categories (fish, shrimp, molluscs, etc.). This more comprehensive search should be done for all countries participating in the AAPQIS.

Ms. Hasna Barnu expressed concern that BFRI had no budget to obtain and photocopy the necessary literature for Bangladesh. As the literature used to compile the Bangladesh Section of the South Asia Bibliography currently resides at FAO, it is recommended that the FAO Fish Health Specialist provide BFRI with copies of all references.

The consultant demonstrated the installation of the AAPQIS data entry form to Ms. Hasna Barnu and the FS librarian using his laptop computer, and also reviewed the usefulness and functions of the AAPQIS via use of the CD ROM version.

The consultant inquired about progress towards establishing a national system for collection of aquatic animal disease data and its reporting to NACA/OIE and was advised that steps were being made in this direction by the NC.

The above constraints were subsequently discussed with Dr. M. Phillips (NACA Environmental Specialist) .

To further the Bangladesh component of the regional strategy, the NCQ was assigned additional duties to assist the NC, and to monitor progress on the behalf of NACA and FAO, as outlined in Annex VI.

3.2 Collaboration with DFID (UK)

On 20 May, the consultant met with Mr. Simon Bland at the British High Commission, Dhaka. Mr. Bland indicated that DFID's program was now focussed on providing aid via NGOs working in the fisheries sector, and that requests for support to the DOF, particularly for infrastructure development, would not be entertained.

During a previous visit to Dhaka, the FAO Fish Health Specialist, Dr. R.P. Subasinghe, discussed with Mr. Bland the possibility of holding the next NACA/FAO/OIE regional workshop in Dhaka, co-sponsored by DFID. Mr. Bland continues to be highly interested in co-operating with FAO on this activity.

4.0 Recommendations Regarding the Development of Expertise in Aquatic Animal Health, Quarantine and Certification in Bangladesh

4.1 Background

The following section outlines specific areas where the Government of Bangladesh might require external assistance towards developing policy and expertise in aquatic animal health, including quarantine and certification. More detailed background information and discussions of policy and development needs of the GOB as perceived by the consultant can be found in Annexes I and II of this document.

The establishment of an effective quarantine and certification program for Bangladesh must be linked to the development of a comprehensive national program on aquatic animal health. Such a program would involve the following components:

(a) Development of a comprehensive aquatic animal health program within the GOB, including development or enhancement of expertise, equipment and infrastructure

Before initiating a program of aquatic animal quarantine, comprehensive data would need to be collected and analyzed to determine the extent and nature of the international and domestic trade in live aquatic animals. Such a program would need to fully implement a risk management approach designed to target aquatic animal species or products posing a high risk of transmitting disease to aquaculture and native fish populations.

(b) Development of a national lead center for research on aquatic animal health

Such a center would need to be staffed by highly trained scientists with expertise in such fields as histopathology, bacteriology, mycology, epidemiology, parasitology, and toxicology, and would be mandated to conduct applied research on diseases of aquatic animals. The centre would also house a central diagnostics laboratory. The research section would, on a first priority basis, provide expert services to the diagnostics laboratory in such areas as the identification of pathogens encountered in imported and exported aquatic animals and assessment of the level of risk posed. The research section would also be expected to provide research support to the DOF regional diagnostics laboratories and to DOF fish breeding centers as well as the private sector. Quarantine facilities to adequately house high risk importations should be included. It is the consultant's opinion that such facilities and expertise would be best located within a new national lead agency (a Bangladesh Quarantine Service), which would integrate quarantine and certification for terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, and plants under one central authority.

(c) Establishment of aquatic animal disease diagnostics capability within DOF Basic diagnostics expertise and facilities are needed within DOF to service brackishwater and freshwater finfish and shellfish culture, both within the government and private sectors. It is recommended that a minimum of two laboratories be established in coastal districts, one on the eastern coast (Cox's Bazar) and another on the western coast (Khulna or Satkhira districts) and at least one laboratory in the central region of the country, to service freshwater fish and shellfish culture.

It is essential that appropriate staff of the GOB be fully involved in the FAO/NACA Regional Project (TCP/RAS/6714) for the development of regional guidelines for the quarantine and certification of aquatic animals. In doing so, Bangladesh will participate in the development of regional guidelines for aquatic animal quarantine and certification. These staff can then adapt these regional guidelines to form the basis of a national quarantine and certification system.

4.2 Recommendations

It is recommended that contacts are initiated with senior level staff of the GOB (at the ministerial level or higher) to discuss the desirability of establishing an integrated national quarantine service encompassing terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, and plants. Discussions at the departmental level, while necessary, are not likely to bring about the needed restructuring.

The implementation of a comprehensive aquatic animal health program for Bangladesh will require long term planning and commitment (a time frame of 10 years is reasonable). Considerable financial resources and manpower will also be necessary. National and donor support of approximately $US 420,000 will be needed to establish basic diagnostic capability within DOF, while some $US 4.5-6.0 million might be required to establish expertise and equipment (not including major infrastructure) for an aquatic animal health division within a larger project to develop a national quarantine centre. The Government of Bangladesh might wish to seek assistance for a project to provide (1) partial short-term (2-3 years) support for development of diagnostics capability within the DOF, (2) expert services to assist GOB in formulating a detailed plan for an integrated national quarantine service, and (3) expert services to advise in the preparation of a detailed proposal for donor consideration and in the identification of potential donors. Such a proposal could be prepared by a joint working group involving DOF, BFRI, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, and Plant Quarantine, assisted by FAO's Fish Health Specialist, FAO specialists dealing with livestock and plant quarantine, and/or by appropriate international consultants.

Aquatic animal health is only one component of a suite of issues surrounding the transfer and introduction of aquatic organisms. At present, there is no standardized procedure for the evaluation of candidate species proposed for introduction into Bangladesh, and such introductions are done in a haphazard manner without critical evaluation of potential benefits vs. risks due to environmental, disease, and genetic impacts. The GOB needs to establish a standardized procedure for the evaluation of all proposed introductions and transfers of aquatic animals. It is recommended that the GOB request the FAO to provide advice and guidance on the establishment of such procedures, and particularly, with the implementation, as far as feasible, of International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and similar guidelines.

At present there is no legislation regulating the importation or exportation of aquatic animals. Although the TOR of the NCQ require him to develop such legislation, and although the DOF has established a temporary committee also charged with this responsibility, these efforts will not provide the necessary level of integration between plant, livestock and aquatic animal sectors. Additionally the involved parties lack essential legal expertise. It is recommended that the GOB establish an interdepartmental committee on quarantine legislation, and that it request the FAO to provide legal advice to assist with preparation of integrated quarantine

Annex IlI
Consultant's Terms of Reference

Under the overall responsibility of the Chief, Operations Division (TCO), and the direct supervision of the Chief, Operations Group, RAPA to whom the incumbent will be directly responsible, and under the technical supervision of the Inland Fisheries Division of FAO, the consultant will carry out the following duties as described under the work plan:

- The consultant will be based in Dhaka and will travel to Cox's Bazar and Khulna districts as and when necessary during the mission.

- The consultant will conduct a three-day workshop for DOF and other relevant officers on aquatic animal quarantine and health certification.

- The consultant will review, analyse and evaluate the existing aquatic animal health certification and quarantine guidelines in Bangladesh.

- Taking into consideration the infrastructure capabilities of the country and the existing legislation on terrestrial animal quarantine and health certification, the consultant will develop appropriate and practical guidelines on aquatic animal health certification and quarantine for Bangladesh.

- The consultant is expected to produce a policy paper on aquatic animal health certification and quarantine for the GOB.

- The consultant will advise FAO on long-term needs for an aquatic animal health certification and quarantine program for Bangladesh, with a view to developing a major proposal for possible donor funding.

- The consultant will present a report at the end of the mission, comporting general findings, analyses and recommendations; the report will be addressed to the project operations officer at RAPA (hard copy together with diskette in Word).

Annex IV
ITINERARY, PERSONNEL MET AND ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN

(District Fisheries Officer) Review of aquaculture activities in Satkhira District staff District

Thana Fisheries Officers farm; FAO Project training program for fry collectors at Maheshskali Island

Annex V
Documents Relating to the Bangladesh National Quarantine Workshop

Annex V, Part A
Technical Session for the Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Annex V, Part B
Technical Paper I - Introduction to Quarantine and the International Situation

Aquatic animal diseases have a serious economic impact on Asian aquaculture and capture fisheries:

- In 1990, Asian aquaculture lost US$ 1.36 billion due to disease, representing some 6% of the total value of aquaculture production.

- Losses associated with "white spot syndrome" (SEMBV) are on the order of US$ 2 billion annually.

- In 1982-83, Thailand alone suffered an estimated US$ 8.7 billion loss due to Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), a disease of freshwater fishes.

These figures must be viewed with some caution, as it is difficult if not impossible to separate the effects of biological pathogens from those due to environmental and management related problems. However, they clearly indicate that diseases cause major losses in production in both aquaculture and capture fisheries. The high cost to national economies justifies making disease prevention and treatment a high priority activity.

Diseases of aquatic animals are spread between countries in a number of ways. These include:

- With intentional releases of aquatic animals to develop aquaculture, improve capture and sport fisheries, and to control nuisance species such as mosquitoes and aquatic plants.

- With unintentional releases of aquatic animals through escapes from research facilities and ornamental fish ponds.

- By natural means, such as the migrations of aquatic animals, the movements of birds and mammals (intermediate hosts and on feet), and via passive transport by river and ocean currents.

It is important to differentiate between an introduction and a transfer. An introduction involves the movement of a species to a new geographical area, while a transfer involves the movement of a species within its existing range. Introductions have broader concerns than just disease issues: they also involve potential ecological and genetic impacts.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Code of Practice to Reduce the Risks Arising from the Introduction and Transfers of Marine Species, outlines a protocol for determining if a proposed introduction is justified, and if so, the methods by which it should occur.

- Facilitate international trade by providing transparent, standardized and defensible procedures

- Minimize the entry of diseases, pests and pathogens exotic to the importing country

Health Certificates come in a variety of forms and can have widely varying levels of significance. They may be based on:

- Based on repeated examination of a production facility over a period of months, then periodic re-examination to retain certified status.

- Based on internationally accepted standardized diagnostic tests of known specificity (e.g., OIE Manual or AFS Blue Book)

It is important to remember that all introductions and transfers of aquatic animals involve the risk of disease transfer. The extent of risk depends on the extent of knowledge of the disease history of a given stock/shipment.

Risk analysis provides a standardized method to evaluate the level of risk posed.

Quarantine is the holding of aquatic animals in secure facilities for a period of time (sometimes for life) during which their disease status is evaluated.

Quarantine is often expensive to implement. An effective quarantine and certification program requires:

- Absence of reliable, rapid and inexpensive detection methods for many pathogens

Aquatic animals do not respect political boundaries. More natural boundaries are those of watershed drainage basins for inland waters, and contiguous coastal divisions for marine habitats (zones).

There are a wide variety of approaches to quarantine being used in the Asia-Pacific Region. These include:

- Attempts to implement a comprehensive pre-border/border/post-border quarantine strategy (e.g., Australia)

- Implementation of measures for selected species (e.g., Japan, for salmonid fishes)

- Assistance to exporters by providing an accreditation scheme; as imported aquatic animals are considered a low risk, allow free movement (e.g., Singapore, Hong Kong)

- Requirement of health certificates for imported shipments/assist exporters by issuing certificates for exports. Enactment of legislation and movement towards setting up quarantine/diagnostics service (most countries in Asia-Pacific)

The Office International des Epizooties (World Organisation for Animal Health) is an international veterinary organization with 147 member countries. The O.I.E. has a Fish Diseases Commission that has prepared the International Aquatic Animal Health Code and Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases. The "Code and Manual" aim to:

- Harmonize health guarantees for international trade in aquatic animals and aquatic animal products

- Guide state Veterinary Services and/or other competent authorities in the preparation of appropriate health certificates based on standard methods and high ethical standards

The OIE Code requires health certification only for diseases listed as notifiable to the OIE. The listed diseases are serious transmissible diseases of socio-economic and/or public health importance, in relation to which the international trade in aquatic animals and their products poses a significant risk of transfer between countries.

The World Trade Organzation (WTO) through the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Agreement promotes free trade between nations by prohibiting the establishment of unjustifiable trade barriers. With regard to trade in aquatic animals, this means that every import/export transaction must be based on sound risk assessment procedures. If, for example, Bangladesh were to prohibit importation of Penaeus monodon because of concerns about SEMBV, this could be challenged by an exporting country, and in order to justify this prohibition, Bangladesh would have to demonstrate to the WTO that it was free from SEMBV infection.

The O.I.E. has been recognized by the WTO as its authority with regards to disputes between countries on matters of aquatic animal health.

The NACA/FAO/OIE Regional Programme for the Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals

There are 19 participating countries: Australia; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Iran; Japan; Republic of Korea; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; and Vietnam.

- Develop formally agreed-upon and standardized technical guidelines on aquatic animal quarantine and health certification of live aquatic animals for the Asia-Pacific region

- Assist 20 national governments to develop national guidelines (policy and program) on quarantine and certification of aquatic animals

- Development of regional and national disease information systems (The Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System, AAPQIS)

- Regional harmonization of technical procedures, including risk assessment procedures, health certificates, lists of pathogens of concern, and accepted diagnostic procedures

- Assessment of status and needs, and assistance with development of national infrastructure, research capacity, policy and framework, and training and man power.

The program has major TCP funding for 2 years from FAO (TCP/RAS/6714), and has generated increasing interest, participation and funding from various donor agencies. It is being implemented through the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA, Bangkok) with the appointment of a NACA Fish Health Specialist to oversee daily coordination to occur shortly.

The Government of Bangladesh is participating fully in the program and has assigned Dr. M.A. Mazid, Director General, BFRI, as National Coordinator. Dr. Mazid will coordinate participation/input by BFRI, DOF, university staff and others.

Annex V, Part C
Summary of Presentation given at the National Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Technical Paper II: Status of Aquatic Animal Health, Quarantine and Legislation in Bangladesh_

Introduction

With the development and intensification of aquaculture, and the consequent occurrence and spread of various diseases, aquatic animal health management has become an important aspect for sustainable aquaculture development. The need for aquatic animal quarantine and certification has recently drawn serious global attention, particularly after the haphazard introduction and transfer of live aquatic animals, including shrimp fry and broodstock in Asian countries. The recent devastating outbreaks of shrimp viral diseases and the earlier outbreaks of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in fresh- and brackishwater fish that have occurred in most Asian countries, including Bangladesh, have caused our government to pay proper attention to these issues. This has led the Government to take various steps towards finding effective solutions to prevent the spread of aquatic animal diseases, particularly those resulting from the introduction of exotic animals.

An effective first line of defense against the possible adverse effects resulting from the introduction or transfer of exotic fish and shellfishes, is the development and adoption of an efficient aquatic animal quarantine and certification system. Proper steps are now being considered at the government level, there being no animal quarantine system in the country.

Among other requirements for the development and implementation of aquatic animal quarantine, background information on the aquatic animal diseases and pathogens, diagnostic facilities and expertise, and disease risks due to introduction of live animals, fry, eggs etc. need proper assessment.

Status of Aquatic Animal Health in Bangladesh Diseases and Pathogens

Knowledge of pathogens and parasites of aquatic animals of Bangladesh is quite limited. The common fish diseases so far reported in the country are:

- Bacterial diseases: columnaris, skin and fin rot, dropsy/hemorrhagic septicemia, scale protrusion, gill rot, red spot., etc

- Fungal diseases: saprolegniasis, brachiomyocosis and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS)/aphanomycosis

- Parasitic diseases: ichthyobodiasis, ichthyophthiriasis, chilodonelliasis, trichodiniasis, myxoboliasis, dactylogyriasis, gyrodactyliasis, black spot, yellow grub, bothrocephaliasis, leech infection, argulosis, lernaeasis, etc.

- Nutritional diseases: lordosis/scoliosis and crack/broken head of African catfish.

Ahmed (1981) reported 78 taxa of helminths from 37 species of fresh and brackishwater fishes, and recently (Ahmed 1997), 69 taxa of helminths from 17 species of wild freshwater catfishes.

Nine species of helminth parasites have so far been reported from the bullfrog (Rana tigrina).

- Bacterial diseases: vibriosis; Leucothrix, Aeromonas and Pseudomonas spp. infection

- Protozoan diseases: the microsporidians Agmasoma and Pleistophora; the gregarines Nematopsis and Cephalolobus

- Nutritional, toxic and environmental diseases: soft shell, black spot, black gill, pink gill, hepatopancreatic necrosis, swollen and cramped tail, muscle necrosis, broken appendages etc.

i) The viral infection WSBV/SEMBV in shrimp, which has caused mass mortality since June 1994, initially in the semi-intensive farms at Cox's Bazar, and in 1995-96, in all culture systems throughout the country, because of the importation of fry from Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. The initial loss was estimated by Larkin (1995) as US$ 5 million and later, by DOF, to be as high as US $ 100 million in 1996.

ii) EUS, which has also caused devastation since its start at the irrigation canals of the Meghna-Dhanagoda Project of Chandpur District (about 200 km away from the Myanmar border) in February, 1988. The initial loss in 1988 was estimated as US$ 3.38 million (Barua, 1994). The disease outbreak coincided with the introduction of the Thai sarputi (Puntius gonionotus). At that time, the Government formed a National Task force to investigate the outbreak of the disease, with Prof. R.J. Roberts (Stirling University) as the international member of the committee.

During the outbreak of shrimp disease in 1994, a committee to look into shrimp diseases was also formed by the government, and different preventive measures like training programs for the farmers were conducted. But due to shortage of fry in the country the importation of fry has continued and so have the diseases.

Introduction of Exotic Fishes

At least 13 species of food fishes have been introduced into the inland waters of Bangladesh, primarily for aquaculture purposes since 1952 (Ahmed,1994). Of these, 12 exotic species or hybrids have become established in the country. Additionally bout 65 different kinds of ornamental fishes are imported for the aquarium fish trade. Fourteen species of parasites have been reported from these exotic fishes.

Risks of introduction of exotic animals

Expertise and Facilities available

In the government sector, the Department of Fisheries and the Fisheries Research Institute have few manpower trained in disease identification and health management. The laboratory facilities of FRI and DOF may be enhanced.

In Dhaka, the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory (CDIL) of the Livestock Department has very good facilities for diagnostics.

In the universities of Dhaka, Chittagong and at Bangladesh Agricultural University highly trained manpower in aquatic animal diseases are available and Dhaka and BAU have good laboratory facilities. The ODA laboratory of the Fisheries Faculty, BAU has all modern facilities. These facilities may be used time to time.

However, for effective implementation of quarantine and certification, expertise and facilities must be developed to world standards, therefore, the following facilities must be created:

- Establishment of quarantine facilities (isolation tanks, aquaria etc.) near Dhaka Airport.

- Diagnostic centers at key points and inspection at different focal points like Khulna (Mongla), Jessore (Benapole), Satkhira (Bhomra border), Sylhet, Chittagong, Cox's Bazer, Tecknaff etc.

Quarantine and Legislation

There exists no quarantine system for animals or related legislation for the country. Only the Plant Protection Wing of the Ministry of Agriculture has a well developed quarantine system, legislated by the Destructive Insects and Pests Rules-1966, amended July, 1989.

The Livestock Department having no quarantine system, the Director General only issues permission for import of live animals (except aquatic animals), with a condition that the importer will arrange isolation of the animals at least for 15 days under the supervision of a veterinary doctor. The department is, however, working to develop a quarantine system.

The Government of Bangladesh has established various Acts and Rules for the protection, conservation and improvement of fisheries resources, as follows:

- The East Bengal Protection and Conservation of Fish (Amendment) Ordinance, 1970.

However, none of these Acts and Ordinances make any mention of animal quarantine and certification

On 2 April, 1995, after the epizootics of EUS and mass mortalities of tiger shrimp, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock formed a nine member committee for Recommending the Import of New Species of Fish or Aquatic Animals for Culture, with the Director General of FRI as the convenor. The committee, in a meeting on 3 June, 1996, approved the Bangladesh Fish and other Aquatic Animal Quarantine Rules, 1996 and submitted these rules to the government for further action. This is undoubtedly a very good initiative.

Recommendations

In light of the devastating diseases that have affected fish and shrimp in Bangladesh, and their relationship with the import of live fish and shrimp fry from disease affected countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia and India without any preventive measures, it is recommended that:

- The Government should immediately frame legislation necessary for the adoption of a quarantine and certification system for Bangladesh which should provide mechanisms to control, as need arises, the movement of live aquatic animals, both internationally and internally.

- Protocols and standards to be developed for quarantine and certification for Bangladesh should meet international standards such as those outlined in the Manual and Code of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), and under development by the NACA/FAO/OIE Regional Programme.

- The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) be mandated to implement aquatic animal quarantine and health certification activities.

- The Director General (DG) of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) be authorized to execute the aquatic animal quarantine and certification program.

- The Government should review the existing acts and rules controlling the import and export of live animals and their products to harmonize and clarify these laws, so that an effective quarantine and certification system for aquatic animals may be readily established.

- The Government should establish a system of data collection to determine the nature (species, numbers, origin, destination, etc.) of the international trade in aquatic animal species. This could involve inspection of shipments and record keeping at key border checkpoints, port and the international airports.

- Integrated program for quarantine should be explored with the Livestock Division. This could include development of a comprehensive quarantine policy covering both terrestrial and aquatic animals, and sharing of facilities and expertise.

- A centrally located lead center for aquatic animal disease research, training and diagnostics should be designated/developed.

- Facilities and specialized expertise at BFRI in the various areas of fish disease research should be enhanced and BFRI should be mandated to provide these specialized services to DoF diagnostics laboratories on a first priority and as needed basis.

- Facilities and expertise related to aquatic animal diseases present at the universities should be enhanced and utilized through collaborative applied research with DoF and BFRI.

- Trained manpower (expertise) in aquatic animal diagnostics backed by services in virology, bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, toxicology and histopathology must be developed.

- Participation and collaboration of BFRI, DoF and university staff in the Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System (AAPQIS) should be given high priority so that a national database of aquatic animal diseases and pathogens can be established and their distributions in the waters of Bangladesh better understood. To accomplish this goal, the availability of computers and Internet access must be increased.

- The Government should implement as soon as possible a national disease reporting system, as agreed to under the NACA/OIE Program.

- The Code of Practice of EIFAC (European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission of the FAO) and ICES (International Council for the Exploration of Sea) should be observed when considering the introduction of new aquatic animal species. Unauthorized introductions should be strictly prohibited. A multidisciplinary committee (as outlined by EIFAC and ICES).should be established to evaluate all proposed new introductions.

- A permanent National Advisory Committee should be established to provide guidance and advice to the Government on aquatic animal quarantine and health certification policy and issues.

- DOF should establish linkages with FAO, OIE and NACA, agencies which are currently working on a regional strategy and guidelines for aquatic animal health certification and quarantine.

- Due to the special nature of aquatic systems in Bangladesh, development of a sub-regional strategy involving consultation and collaboration with SARC countries (particularly India and Nepal) and Myanmar to combat aquatic animal disease transmission should be considered.

- MoFL might wish to request FAO to assist in identifying potential donors for additional technical assistance in the implementation of the Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Certification Program of Bangladesh.

Annex V, Part D
Recommendations Adopted in the Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Held 24 May, 1998 at the Department of Fisheries, Matshya Bhaban, Ramna, Dhaka

The Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, was jointly organized by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Inaugural Session was presided over by the Secretary, MoFL, Mr. Ayub Quadri. The session was graced by the Honourable Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Mr. Satish Chandra Roy as Chief Guest, and Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Representative in Bangladesh as Special Guest. Director General Mr. Liaquat Ali gave the Welcome Address. Mr. Masudur Rahman, Director (Marine) and National Project Director gave the Vote of Thanks. The Minister and the Secretary expressed great satisfaction in taking up this vital issue of developing a quarantine system in Bangladesh. They gave special emphasis on the immediate need to develop an effective system. The FAO Repepresentative emphasized the need to develop a national policy towards importation of aquatic animals as well as appropriate practical guidelines and strategy for aquatic animal health certification and quarantine for Bangladesh. The Opening Session was attended by some 80 people, including workshop participants, senior officials from various concerned departments, university staff, and the private sector.

The Technical Session was chaired by Mr. A.K. Ataur Rahman. Following the presentation of technical papers by the FAO consultants, Drs. J. R. Arthur and A.T.A. Ahmed, there was a long discussion on these papers, and important recommendations were made. In the Recommendations Session, chaired by the DG Fisheries, the following recommendations were adopted by the workshop participants:

Recommendations

Short-Term Recommendations

1. The Government should immediately frame legislation necessary for the adoption of a quarantine and health certification system for Bangladesh which should provide mechanisms to control, as need arises, the movement of live aquatic animals, both internationally and internally.

2. Disease diagnostic or pathogen identification centers should be established by DOF at selected entry/exit points to facilitate the health certification system.

3. Protocols and standards to be developed for quarantine and certification for Bangladesh should meet international standards such as those outlined in the Manual and Code of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), and under development by the NACA/FAO/OIE Regional Programme.

4. The Department of Fisheries (DoF) should be authorized to execute the aquatic animal quarantine and health certification program.

5. A permanent National Advisory Committee should be established by the MoFL comprised of representatives from DOF, BFRI, universities and other concerned departments and agencies to provide DOF with guidance and advice on the implementation of aquatic animal quarantine and health certification policy and issues.

6. A centrally located lead center for aquatic animal disease monitoring, diagnostics and training should be designated/developed.

7. DOF will utilize the specialized services from BFRI, universities and other laboratories existing in the country as and when needed.

8. The Government should implement as soon as possible a national disease reporting system, as agreed to under the NACA/OIE Program, through baseline research on pathogens and diseases of capture and culture fisheries.

9. The Code of Practice of EIFAC (European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission of the FAO) and ICES (International Council for the Exploration of Sea) should be observed when considering the introduction of new aquatic animal species. Unauthorized introductions should be strictly prohibited. A multidisciplinary committee (as outlined by EIFAC and ICES) should be established to evaluate all proposed new introductions.

10. Needs related to infrastructure, expertise and manpower should be identified by DOF and project proposals prepared for possible donor funding.

11. MoFL might wish to request FAO to assist in identifying potential donors for additional technical assistance for implementation of the Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Health Certification Program of Bangladesh.

Long-Term Recommendations

1. Trained manpower (expertise) in aquatic animal diagnostics backed by services in virology, bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, toxicology and histopathology must be developed to provide support to diagnostics services.

2. National capacity to provide diseases diagnostic services to the aquaculture industry should be improved.

3. Participation and collaboration of BFRI, DoF and university staff in the Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System (AAPQIS) should be given high priority so that a national database of aquatic animal diseases and pathogens can be established and their distributions in the waters of Bangladesh better understood. To accomplish this goal, the availability of computers and Internet access must be increased.

4. Development of disease diagnostics and prevention capacity in the private sector should be encouraged.

Annex VI
Outline of Work to Be Accomplished by the NCQ

In consultation with the NCQ and FAO, the following activities were more fully defined as part of the NCQ's TOR:

- Conduct a search to identify all national legislation and any international agreements to which Bangladesh is signatory, dealing with the international movement (import and export) of animals, both aquatic and terrestrial, and to provide for FAO a summary of applicable sections of these acts and regulations, along with complete copies of the various acts/legislative documents.

- Follow up with the NPC, FRI DG, and others, as necessary, to obtain any required identified by the International Consultant as necessary to completion of his TOR.

- Arrange meetings between the ICQ, NCQ and appropriate staff of the OCVO, Customs, Wildlife, and other departments, as deemed appropriate.

- Assist the ICQ with developing a conceptual framework on policy and implementation of possible quarantine and certification measures for Bangladesh

- Participate in the National Workshop on Quarantine and Certification of Aquatic Animals, by undertaking the following duties:

- Preparing a 45 minute review presentation, with appropriate slides and transparencies, on the "Status of Aquatic Animal Health, Quarantine and Legislation in Bangladesh".

- Preparing an outline of the above presentation, along with any supporting documents, as seen fit, for distribution to workshop participants.

- Preparing a draft list of recommendations regarding actions to be taken by the GOB with regard to preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic animal pathogens into Bangladesh (In consultation with the ICQ)

- Participating fully in the National Workshop and assisting in framing the final list of recommendations arising therefrom.

During discussions with the NCQ and Mr. W. Shah, FAO, Dhaka, the following activities were agreed to be undertaken to by the NCQ in addition to those outlined in his TOR:

To assist the NACA/FAO/OIE Regional Strategy for Guidelines for Quarantine and Certification of Aquatic Animals by:

- Reviewing the draft National Co-ordinator's country report for Bangladesh and providing to the NC (Dr. M.A. Mazid (Director General, Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh) and staff (Ms. Begum A.N. Hasna Banu) and to FAO comments on completeness and accuracy, identifying any areas needing strengthening or additional information, and providing such information, where available or known to the NCQ.

- Assisting the NC in the organization and collection of information needed for the Bangladesh component of the Aquatic Animal Pathogen and Quarantine Information System by:

- monitoring accuracy of data entry by spot checking following data entry and verification by the NC and/or designated staff

- reviewing with the NC the literature citations contained in the draft country bibliography and commercial literature database searches (provided by the International Consultant) and ensuring completeness by identifying possible omissions

Annex I

Recommendations to the Government of
Bangladesh for a Policy on the Development
of a National Quarantine Program
for Aquatic Animal Health

1.0 Background

The following section makes recommendations to the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) related to the development of a policy and plan for aquatic animal health. Although the consultant's Terms of Reference specify "quarantine and certification", these issues cannot be separated from the broader issues of development of a national aquatic animal health plan, encompassing not only quarantine and certification "sensu stricto", but also improved disease prevention at the national and local levels. In drafting the following recommendations for Bangladesh, the following overriding principles were followed:

_ That there is an urgent need to clearly establish current trade patterns, both internationally and domestically, for aquatic animal species, and to obtain an accurate and detailed picture of disease/pathogen distributions and current disease problems occurring in both cultured and wild stocks of aquatic animals in Bangladesh before developing a detailed approach to preventing the spread of diseases.

_ That restriction or regulation of trade in aquatic animal species that is unnecessary, unjustifiable (either scientifically or economically), unfeasible (either technically, administratively or from an enforcement standpoint) or which would be in violation of the "Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures" should be avoided.

_ That the establishment of costly and ineffective bureaucracy and infrastructure should be avoided, as far as possible, and

2.0 Jurisdiction, Administrative Structure and Responsibilities

The development of an effective approach to quarantine and aquatic animal health, leading to an eventual quarantine and certification program, is best accomplished in an integrated manner, initially involving the use of expertise and resources currently housed in a number of departments, including the Department of Fisheries (DOF) (routine disease diagnosis, extension services and farmer training), the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) (research to establish the baseline disease situation and to identify an characterize emerging diseases), the Directory of Livestock Services (veterinarians experienced in disease diagnostics, treatment and epidemiology), and the Customs Department (border checking and enforcement). It is the consultant's opinion that placing the quarantine service within one of the existing departments would not be advisable due to a number of reasons, while spreading the responsibility among departments (e.g., DOF and BFRI) would require a daily level of communication and cooperation among these departments that, for administrative and historical reasons, cannot be expected.

Bangladesh currently lacks a program for the quarantine and inspection of terrestrial animals (see Annex II), however, a plan for such a program is currently being considered (Dr. S. Niaz, Chief Veterinary Officer, Central Veterinary Hospital, pers. comm.). A program for plant inspection and quarantine has been in existence since 1914. The proposed programs for aquatic and terrestrial animals, and the existing plant quarantine programs will have much in common, in terms of approach, expertise and infrastructure needs, legislative requirements, enforcement needs etc. It makes sense for the GOB to integrate these programs under a single authority (a Bangladesh Quarantine Service), with separate divisions for terrestrial animals, aquatic animals and plants. It is therefore recommended that the GOB establish a high level interministerial committee to develop a master plan for a Bangladesh Quarantine Service whose main responsibility would be the inspection and quarantine of imported shipments of plants, aquatic animals (if and when this is deemed necessary) and terrestrial animals, and the issuing of health certificates for exported animals and plants to importing country standards. The committee should include, but not be restricted to, representatives from the DOF, the BFRI, the Directory of Livestock Services (DLS), Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO), and the Plant Protection Wing, Department of Agriculture Extension.

The Aquatic Animal Division of a new Quarantine Service would need to have a close working relationship with the DOF, the BFRI and with the various universities. It is recommended that the primary function of the DOF with regards to aquatic animal health be to provide basic diagnostic and extension services to fish and shellfish farmers. To accomplish this, considerable upgrading of expertise and capacity will be needed (see below and Annex II).

To provide essential support to diagnosticians involved in inspection and certification, it is recommended that a strong research component on aquatic animal diseases be developed within the proposed Quarantine Service, with the primary mandate being to conduct research on new and emerging diseases, and to provide the essential expertise needed by regional diagnostics laboratories in the areas of pathogen identification and disease prevention, treatment and eradication. The role of the BFRI in a national program on fish disease research should be re-assessed. With the establishment of research expertise in the proposed Quarantine Service, work conducted at BFRI should probably be restricted to conducting applied research related to the specific needs of the aquaculture industry as identified by the DOF.

3.0 Surveillance and Monitoring

3.1 International Trade in Aquatic Animals

As noted in Annex II, there exists no reliable data on the international trade in living aquatic animals as it applies to Bangladesh. In order to conduct risk assessments and develop regulations, it is essential that reliable data be available. These data include information on both importations and exportations of aquatic animals, including species and quantities exported and imported; dates of shipment and ports of entry/exit; shipper, transshipper(s) (if any), and receiver; country of origin/transshipment/destination; health status (inspections, certifications and any treatments applied); intended final use; etc. Data would need to be collected on living fish, shellfish and other invertebrates destined for aquaculture, human consumption or the ornamental fish trade. An effort would have to be made to obtain estimates for the above parameters, as far as possible, for animals shipped illegally, as this may be an important route of disease entry. On a national basis, it is also important for disease prevention and the development of containment and eradication strategies, to understand the nature of the domestic trade in living aquatic animals. It is therefore recommended that a program of monitoring and data collection be established as soon as possible to obtain this information.

3.2 National Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database

It is recommended that the establishment of an Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database for Bangladesh be given high priority. Initial work on establishing a historical database, based primarily on the published literature is underway at BFRI's Freshwater Station at Mymesingh. However, as noted in Annex II, few studies on aquatic animal pathogens have been conducted in Bangladesh, and the majority of these have been taxonomic or descriptive in nature. Because of this paucity of data, it is recommended that baseline surveys of the parasites, pathogens and diseases of Bangladeshi fishes and shellfishes be undertaken, with priority given to those species important to aquaculture and capture fisheries. Such surveys could be undertaken by staff of BFRI, members of departments at Bangladesh Agricultural University and University of Dhaka, and as part of in-country M.Sc. or Ph.D. programs of staff of BFRI, DOF or the proposed Quarantine Service sent for overseas training.

Because of the current lack of fish health expertise in Bangladesh, and the current involvement of BFRI in the NACA/FAO/OIE regional program, it is recommended that, for the immediate future, the responsibility for a National Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database rest with the BFRI. However, in the long term, this responsibility should be transferred to the Quarantine Service.

3.3 Monitoring of Disease Outbreaks

Presently, responsibility for disease reporting under the OIE/NACA regional disease reporting system has been given to the National Coordinator (NC), based at BFRI, Mymesingh. However, BFRI can only perform this duty successfully if adequate arrangements are made with DOF such that DOF District and Thana Fisheries Officers, who are in close contact with local fish and shellfish farmers, are involved in routine disease monitoring. Such an arrangement requires that DOF Officers be capable of recognizing when a disease event is occurring (few if any officers have this training), that an adequate reporting mechanism has been put in place, and that sufficient expertise exists at BFRI to rapidly identify the cause of disease once an event has been reported. It is recommended that the GOB and NACA/OIE monitor closely the ability of BFRI/DOF to implement disease reporting. In the long term, this responsibility would best be taken over by the Quarantine Service, however, close cooperation with DOF will continue to be essential

4.0 Development of Capacity

4.1 Manpower Development

As noted in Annex II, there are currently only a few scientists in Bangladesh, either in the government or at universities, with expertise related to aquatic animal health. As a result, there are no individuals with international level expertise in fish or shellfish disease diagnostics within the country, and only incomplete expertise in other related fish health disciplines. Thus it is recommended that the GOB give highest priority to the development of expertise in diagnostics and related support areas within the DOF, the Aquatic Animal Division of the proposed Quarantine Service, and, to a lesser extent, at BFRI.

There is an urgent need to have at least three fully functional laboratories capable of conducting basic disease diagnostics, including histopathology, to service the brackishwater aquaculture industry (see below). It is therefore recommended that top priority be given to the training of a minimum of three DOF staff in histopathology and diagnostics, preferably at the M.Sc. level. This training should commence as soon as possible, so that a minimum level of diagnostics expertise can be in place within 2-3 years.

As part of a long-term policy to develop aquatic animal health capability, research capability in diagnostics and related disciplines will need to be centralized at a national lead center (see below). Such a lead center will need to be staffed with experts (M.Sc. and Ph.D. level) in such disciplines as histopathology, bacteriology, virology, water quality and toxicology, parasitology and epidemiology. It is therefore recommended that the policy of the GOB include development of a long-term strategic plan to acquire such expertise over the course of the next 10 years.

As a short term measure to develop a minimum level of expertise, and as a screening method for potential candidates for post-graduate training and assignment to a future Bangladesh Quarantine Service, it is recommended that the GOB identify a pool of 6-8 employees from DOF, BFRI and the Veterinary Service, with degrees in fisheries or other related areas of zoology, or in veterinary science, who can be sent for short-term specialized training in basic disease diagnostics, either internationally, or within the region.

Training of DOF District and Thana Fisheries Officers is urgently needed, both to provide assistance to fish farmers, and to ensure that disease monitoring and reporting obligations to NACA/OIE can be met. Short-term (1-2 week) training in basic disease recognition, prevention (through good husbandry) and simple treatment methods is recommended for all District and Thana Fishery Officers. Such training could be organized by DOF, with the technical assistance of national staff from BFRI, BAU and UOD. Participation of regional and/or international experts is considered essential.

4.2 Infrastructure

Implementation of an aquatic animal health program will require considerable investment in infrastructure. It is recommended that the GOB develop a detailed long term (10 year) plan for infrastructure development. Such a program would include:

4.2.1 Establishment of Diagnostics Centers

Establishment of two diagnostic centers to service brackishwater and marine aquaculture, one located in the western part of the country (Satkhira or Khulna districts) and the other in the eastern part of the country (Chittagong District). A third diagnostic center to assist freshwater aquaculture should be developed in the central part of the country, possibly in the Jessore area, which is a major region of carp seed production. As a temporary measure, arrangements might be made to establish diagnostic centers in the central and eastern areas using BFRI facilities at Mymesingh and Cox's Bazar. It is recommended that the GOB give high priority to establishing these centers so that functional diagnostics laboratories can be in place within the next three years. An outline of the minimum requirements for these diagnostics centers is given in Annex II.

4.2.2 Establishment of a National Center for Aquatic Animal Health

As a long-term (10 year) goal, it is recommended that the GOB seek to establish a national center for aquatic animal health. Such a center would provide expert services to the regional diagnostics laboratories, and to other stakeholders from the government, university and private aquaculture sectors. The center would also conduct applied research in the various areas of fish health, including pathogen identification and characterization, disease treatment and prevention, aquaculture health management, research on diseases and pathogens of wild stocks, etc. The center should be centrally located in a district of high aquaculture activity. As such a center would require 4-6 scientists with specialized international training (M.Sc. and Ph.D. level), additional support staff, and significant costs for infrastructure (fully equipped offices and research laboratories, quarantine facilities and research ponds, computing facilities, etc.), significant long term donor support may be required. As noted in Section 2.0, such a center would best be established as a division of an larger national quarantine center integrating terrestrial and aquatic animal, and plant quarantine services.

5.0 Legislation and Enforcement

Although a legislative framework to support quarantine "sensu stricto" (i.e., the physical confinement and associated inspection of aquatic animals at secure border stations) may eventually be necessary, its development should be considered a long-term possibility, subject to a detailed analysis of import/export trade patterns and a frank evaluation of feasibility and likely effectiveness vs. costs entailed.

5.1 Legislation to Restrict Importation of Exotic Species Likely to Establish in Bangladesh

As a high priority, it is recommended that initial legislation be targeted at preventing the unrestricted importation of exotic aquatic animal species intended to be introduced or likely to escape into natural waters. If legislation is needed to provide GOB with the mechanisms for monitoring imports and exports and collecting necessary data outlined in Section 3.0, this should also be included. It is recommended that the GOB seek expert legal assistance from the FAO in the development and framing of any legislation.

5.2 Legislation for Quarantine "sensu stricto"

While general legislation might provide the mechanism for quarantine "sensu stricto" , with all that such a program implies (mandatory quarantine, inspection, possible destruction of infected stocks, etc.), it is strongly recommended that such a program not be implemented at this time. Similarly, general bans (either formal or informal) on the importation of aquatic species that are part of current culture practice or are native to Bangladesh are not recommended, unless based on sound, defensible biological criteria (e.g., as under the terms of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)).

5.3 Need for Policy on Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic Animals

It is recommended that the GOB establish a permanent committee on introductions and transfers of aquatic species, whose mandate would include evaluation of requests to import exotic species, including assessment of risks of ecological disturbances, genetic impacts, and disease introductions. Such a committee should include appropriate expertise drawn from the government, university and private sectors.

6.0 Quarantine

6.1 Border Inspection and Quarantine

As discussed in Annex II, the biological (contiguous coastal zones, shared major drainage basins) and logistical (extremely porous borders, apparent existence of considerable unregulated and/or illegal trade, large volume of animals moved) constraints faced by Bangladesh indicate that any attempt to implement strict quarantine at national borders and points of entry will most probably be unsuccessful in preventing disease entry and is likely to impact negatively on aquaculture development. It is therefore recommended that GOB not attempt to implement border quarantine and inspection at this point in time.

6.2 Quarantine of Species Proposed for Introduction

Quarantine and inspection of exotic species proposed for introduction into Bangladesh will be necessary, however, this will involve long-term holding and repeated inspection of a relatively few animals. Facilities for such holding and inspection can be temporarily established at an existing facility and later included in plans for a national aquatic animal health center.

6.3 Need for Risk Assessments

As previously mentioned, basic data on the international and domestic trade in aquatic animals is lacking for Bangladesh. As such data is collected, it is recommended that risk assessments be conducted on key species or sectors (e.g., international and domestic trade in prawn post-larvae and broodstock, the aquarium fish industry).

7.0 International Responsibilities and Activities

Bangladesh has a number of obligations and responsibilities under international agreements and through participation in regional working groups.

In particular, as a member of the World Trade Organization, Bangladesh has the responsibility to ensure that the terms of the SPS Agreement are met.

Bangladesh is a member of the Organization International des Epizooties (O.I..E., the World Animal Health Organization), and thus has certain disease-reporting duties, which are being fulfilled via reporting to the NACA/OIE under the regional initiative.

Bangladesh also participates in the FAO/NACA/OIE "Asia Regional Programme for the Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia" (TCP/RAS/6714(A)).

It is recommended that Bangladesh maintain and enhance, where possible, its participation in all these activities.

In terms of aquatic fauna, aquaculture systems, and associated disease problems, Bangladesh has much in common with its neighboring countries, particularly those of SAARC. Indeed, the shared major river systems and contiguous coastal areas are the primary features characterizing the aquatic environment of Bangladesh, features which make any attempt to block disease entry at national boundaries unlikely to be successful. As such, it is strongly recommended that Bangladesh initiate discussions with neighboring countries (India, Nepal, China, Myanmar) to explore the possibility of disease management and containment based on zoning of drainage basins and coastal areas.

Through bilateral assistance, the universities of Bangladesh have linkages with universities in Scotland (Bangladesh Agricultural University and the University of Stirling) and in Norway (University of Dhaka and Bergen University). Other linkages (e.g., between the DOF and the Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute, Bangkok) are being developed through this project and through Regional TCP/RAS/6714(A). It is strongly recommended that similar long-term linkages be developed with international and regional centers of excellence, as a means of obtaining international level training for staff and to permit the participation of foreign experts in research activities in Bangladesh.

8.0 Resources and Funding

The development of the expertise and capacity required to adequately address Bangladesh's needs in aquatic animal health research and quarantine and certification will require substantial long-term funding. It is therefore recommended that the GOB develop a detailed funding proposal for consideration by donor agencies. Given the high cost of establishing and operating a national aquatic animal health center (probably in the area of $US 4.5-6 million for training, equipment and research costs, spread over a 10 year period), donor assistance will probably be essential for this component.

However, in the short to mid term (1-3 years) much can be accomplished at relatively low cost by reassigning existing expertise and facilities. Funding on the order of $US140,000 would be adequate to provide training to one diagnostician to M.Sc. level, and the equipping for basic diagnostics (histopathology, parasitology, water quality) of a regional diagnostics laboratory. It is recommended that the GOB prepare such a proposal as soon as possible for consideration by potential donors. A brief outline of the contents of such a proposal is given in Annex II, Attachment A.

In the short term, the existing limited expertise and facilities present at the BFRI Freshwater Station could be utilized and upgraded to provide diagnostics services to the freshwater aquaculture industry. Agreements could also be explored to utilize expertise available at Bangladesh Agricultural University and the University of Dhaka.

There are a number of potential facilities in existence in Bangladesh which could, in whole or part, serve to house regional diagnostics laboratories or serve as sites for development of a national aquatic animal health research center. Those known to the consultant include the research stations of the BFRI (which would be well suited for this purpose), the Headquarters, and the Divisional, District and Thana offices of the DOF (generally these consist of office space only, such that considerable renovation would be necessary), demonstration and training centers and hatcheries of the DOF, the Central Veterinary Hospital, and facilities present at the universities and at NGOs such as the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Other possible sites for which the consultant does not have first hand knowledge, include the offices and laboratories of the Directory of Livestock Services and of the Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Wing. It is recommended that the GOB undertake a review of all possible facilities and sites with a view to determine the options and best possible sites for establishment of a national aquatic animal health center and regional diagnostics laboratories.

9.0 Summary of Recommendations

_ The Government of Bangladesh establish a high level interministerial committee to develop a master plan for a Bangladesh Quarantine Service whose main responsibility would be the inspection and quarantine of imported shipments of plants, aquatic animals (if and when this is deemed necessary) and terrestrial animals, and the issuing of health certificates for exported animals and plants to importing country standards.

_ The primary function of the Department of Fisheries with regards to aquatic animal health be to provide basic diagnostic and extension services to fish and shellfish farmers.

_ A strong research component on aquatic animal diseases be developed within the proposed Quarantine Service, with the primary mandate being to conduct research on new and emerging diseases, and to provide the essential expertise needed by regional diagnostics laboratories in the areas of pathogen identification and disease prevention, treatment and eradication.

_ A program of monitoring and data collection be established as soon as possible to obtain detailed information related to the international and domestic trade in living aquatic animals.

_ The establishment of an Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database for Bangladesh be given high priority.

_ Because of a paucity of data, baseline surveys of the parasites, pathogens and diseases of Bangladeshi fishes and shellfishes be undertaken, with priority given to those species important to aquaculture and capture fisheries.

_ Because of the current lack of fish health expertise in Bangladesh and the current involvement of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute in the NACA/FAO/OIE regional program, for the immediate future, the responsibility for a National Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database rest with the BFRI.

_ The Government of Bangladesh and NACA/OIE monitor closely the ability of BFRI/DOF to implement disease reporting.

_ The Government of Bangladesh give highest priority to the development of expertise in diagnostics and related support areas within the DOF, the Aquatic Animal Division of the proposed Bangladesh Quarantine Service, and, to a lesser extent, at BFRI.

_ Top priority be given to the training of a minimum of three DOF staff in histopathology and diagnostics, preferably to the M.Sc. level.

_ The Government of Bangladesh develop a long-term strategic plan to acquire specialist expertise in the various fish health disciplines over the course of the next 10 years.

_ As a short term measure, and as a screening method for potential candidates for post-graduate training and assignment to a future national quarantine service, that a pool of 6-8 employees be identified from DOF, BFRI and the Veterinary Service who can be sent for short-term specialized training in basic disease diagnostics.

_ Short-term (1-2 week) training in basic disease recognition, prevention (through good husbandry) and simple treatment methods be given to all DOF District and Thana Fishery Officers.

_ The Government of Bangladesh develop a detailed long term (10 year) plan for infrastructure development.

_ High priority be given to establishing diagnostic centers to service brackishwater and marine aquaculture, one located in the western and one in the eastern part of the country, and a third diagnostic center to assist freshwater aquaculture in the central part of the country, so that functional diagnostics laboratories can be in place within the next three years.

_ As a long-term (10 year) goal, that the Government of Bangladesh seeks to establish a national center for aquatic animal health.

_ As a high priority, initial legislation be targeted at preventing the unrestricted importation of exotic aquatic animal species intended to be introduced or likely to escape into natural waters.

_ The Government of Bangladesh seeks expert legal assistance from the FAO in the development and framing of any legislation.

_ The Government of Bangladesh establishes a permanent committee on introductions and transfers of aquatic species, whose mandate would include evaluation of requests to import exotic species, including assessment of risks of ecological disturbances, genetic impacts, and disease introductions.

_ A program of border quarantine and inspection, with all that such a program implies (mandatory quarantine, inspection, possible destruction of infected stocks, etc.), not be implemented at this time.

_ As basic data on the international and domestic trade in aquatic animals is collected, that risk assessments be conducted on key species or sectors (e.g., international and domestic trade in prawn post-larvae and broodstock, the aquarium fish industry).

_ Bangladesh maintains and enhances, where possible, its participation in international activities such as disease reporting to the OIE/NACA and the FAO/NACA/OIE Asia Regional Programme.

_ Bangladesh initiates discussions with neighboring countries (India, Nepal, China, Myanmar) to explore the possibility of disease management and containment based on zoning of drainage basins and coastal areas.

_ The Government of Bangladesh seeks to develop long-term linkages with international and regional centers of excellence, as a means of obtaining international level training for staff, and to permit the participation of foreign experts in research activities in Bangladesh.

_ A detailed funding proposal be formulated for consideration by donor agencies to support development of the expertise and capacity required to adequately address Bangladesh's needs in aquatic animal health research and quarantine and certification.

_ As soon as possible, a proposal be prepared for circulation to potential donors to provide training to three diagnosticians to M.Sc. level, and the equipping of three regional laboratories for basic diagnostics.

_ The Government of Bangladesh undertakes a review of all possible facilities and sites, with a view to determining the options and best possible sites for establishment of a national aquatic animal health center and regional diagnostics laboratories.

Annex Il

Guidelines for the Development of a National Program for the Quarantine and Certification of Aquatic Animals for Bangladesh

1.0 Background

The need for a program for aquatic animal health for Bangladesh, including quarantine and certification, has been discussed at a number of international meetings and workshops, dating back at least tol 1990. Background information presented below is drawn mainly from the reports of these workshops, as well as from information obtained during the consultant's visit to Bangladesh. For additional information, readers are referred to the following reports, and to the background literature listed in Annex II, Attachment C.

_ ADB/NACA. 1991. Bangladesh. p. 89-92. In Fish Health Management in Asia-Pacific. Report on a Regional Study and Workshop on Fish Disease and Fish Health Management. ADB Agriculture Department Report Series No. 1. Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand, 627 p.

_ Hossain, M.A. 1997. Status of Fish and Shrimp Disease Diagnostic Services, Quarantine and Health Certification in Bangladesh. p. 6-12. In Country Reports from the 3rd Annual South East Asia Aquatic Disease Control Project Network Co-ordinators Meeting, Penang, Malaysia, 8-12 December, 1997. South East Asia Aquatic Disease Control Project and Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. (draft)

_ Hossain, M.A. 1997. Bangladesh. p. 27-34. In Annex V: Country Papers. Humphrey, J., J.R. Arthur, R.P. Subasinghe, and M.J. Phillips. Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Health Certification in Asia. Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Health and Quarantine Guidelines for the Responsible Movement (Introduction and Transfer) of Aquatic Organisms. Bangkok, Thailand, 28 January 1996. FAO Fish. Techn. Pap. No. 373, 153 p.

_ Mazid, M.A., and A.N. Hasna Banu. 1998. Health Certification and Quarantine of Aquatic Animal [sic] in Bangladesh. Regional Programme for the Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia. Bangkok, Thailand, 12-20 January, 1998. FAO/NACA/OIE, January 1998, 17 p.

1.1 Introductions of Aquatic Animals

Since 1952, at least 11 freshwater fishes have been intentionally introduced into Bangladesh waters for aquaculture purposes and/or control of aquatic insects, snails or plants (Rahman 1989, A.T.A. Ahmed, pers. comm.). All except one species, the snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis), are currently present in the country. Exotic species that have been introduced and have become established, either in the wild or as part of current aquaculture practice, include three tilapias (Mossambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (introduced from Thailand in 1954); Nile tilapia, O. niloticus (Thailand, 1974, 1987); and their hybrid, "red tilapia" (Thailand, 1988)); five Chinese carps (common carp, Cyprinus carpio (China, 1960; Nepal, 1979; India, date unknown); grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Hongkong, 1966; Japan, 1970, Nepal, 1979); silver carp, Hypothpthalmichthys molitrix (Hongkong 1969); bighead carp, Aristhichthys nobilis (Nepal, 1981); and black carp, Mylopharyngodon piceus (China, 1983)); the Thai silver barb, Barbodes gonionotus (Thailand, 1977); and two catfishes (North African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Thailand, 1989) and sutchi catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmus (syn. P. sutchi) (Thailand, 1990)). Additionally, three fishes imported by the aquarium fish trade are reported to have become established in the wild, guppy (Poecilia reticulata), goldfish (Carassius auratus) and an unidentified catfish (possibly Placostomus sp.?).

Although many of these introductions were made by staff of the Department of Fisheries (DOF) or the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), there appears to have been no thorough or systematic consideration of their desirability, and likely ecologic, genetic or disease impacts prior to importation. Additionally, although Rahman (1989) considered the majority of these intentional introductions to have been beneficial, there has been little critical assessment to date of the positive and negative impacts of these species.

There is apparently no information available concerning possible introductions of aquatic invertebrates, either intentional or accidental, or of marine finfishes. However, given that there exists an unquantified, but apparently substantial unregulated trade in prawn postlarvae and broodstock, some introductions are likely to have occurred.

1.2 Pathogen Introductions

As the fishes of Bangladesh have been little studied, information on the parasites and diseases that may have been introduced along with the importation of exotic aquatic animals is fragmentary. According to Dr. A.T.A. Ahmed (unpublished data) at least 14 species of exotic parasites infect exotic cyprinids (grasscarp, silver carp, common carp, bighead carp, goldfish, and Thai silver barb) imported into Bangladesh. Among these are a number of known pathogens, such as Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Myxobolus pavlovskii, Dactylogyrus spp., Gyrodactylus sp., Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, and Lernaea cyprinacea.

Bangladeshi scientists have suggested that the two major diseases currently affecting aquaculture and capture fisheries in Bangladesh may be of exotic origin. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), unknown in the country before 1987, is thought to have entered Bangladesh from India. Concern has also been expressed that whitespot disease (SEMBV) of penaeid shrimp, unknown in Bangladesh before 1994, may have entered the country with the importation of post-larvae and/or broodstock of Penaeus monodon. While it is possible that these diseases gained entry through human mediated activities, it is also equally likely that they reached Bangladesh through natural means, such as the migrations of infected fish or shellfish or transport by river or ocean currents.

1.3 Overriding Biogeographical Considerations

Geographically, Bangladesh is primarily low-lying deltic land of the three great river systems entering the Bay of Bengal (the Padma (or Ganges), the Jamuna (or Bhramaputra), and the Megna.). A large part of this deltic land, which makes up almost all of the country, except a small area of hill country in the Southeast, bordering Myanmar, is subject to annual flooding. An average of 29,828 km (20.1%) of the total land area of Bangladesh is flooded annually (range of 2.2-62.5% of the total land area).

When considering the potential for transfer of diseases of aquatic animals, this vast drainage basin, which includes much of northern India and Nepal, as well as almost all of Bangladesh, should be considered as a single zone Aquatic animals and their disease agents introduced into the upper reaches of these river systems in Nepal and India would have high potential to spread downstream into Bangladeshi waters. Similarly, any new aquatic animals occurring in this area of Bangladesh would be able to migrate upstream, as far as geographical features (water falls) or dams constructed for hydro-electrical or water irrigation projects would permit. The extensive flooding, which permits aquatic animals and their pathogens to move rather freely between rivers, tanks and ponds in most of Bangladesh, and the high possibility of natural transmission from neighbouring states, would suggest that any attempts to prevent the entry and spread of pathogens via control at national borders, or to limit the spread of diseases within the natural waters of the lower part of the zone (Bangladesh) would probably be futile.

A similar situation appears to exist for diseases of brackishwater and marine aquatic animals. The spread into Bangladesh of diseases occurring in penaeid shrimp in adjacent areas of India and Myanmar, by either natural (transmission to wild populations, transport of pathogens by currents or animal vectors) or human-mediated (unregulated entries) means would appear to be almost certain.

An attempt to establish a rigorous quarantine system mandating quarantine and testing of all imported aquatic animals would therefore appear to be counter productive. Such a system would be costly to establish and administer, would unnecessarily hinder trade and the development of aquaculture, and would have little, if any, chance of providing effective protection against the entry of exotic diseases.

In the southwest of Bangladesh, the southern area of Chittagong Division, which includes the Rangamat and Badaraban Hill Tracts, constitutes a small but distinct drainage area shared with India and Myanmar. Several small river systems drain this region, the most important being the Karnaphuli River, whose upper reaches are dammed, forming Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh's only hydro-electrical reservoir. The rivers entering the Bay of Bengal within this zone appear to comprise individual drainages, and should they contain unique fauna, measures could be taken to protect them from further introductions and possible disease transfers.

2.0 Avenues of Disease Entry into Bangladesh and A Preliminary Assessment of Associated Risk

2.1 Importation of Aquatic Animals for Aquaculture

Aquatic animals imported for aquaculture pose a high disease risk to existing culture activities and to wild stocks of fish and shellfish. Of particular concern are importations of exotic species not yet established in Bangladesh, as these have significant potential to introduce new pathogens which may affect the culture success of the new species, as well as posing a threat to existing cultured and wild stocks. Compared with other countries, introductions into Bangladesh have been few, and have been made primarily by government agencies. It is thus possible that disease concerns associated with most intentional introductions can be adequately addressed by implementing a protocol for evaluating proposed introductions, including the need for strict quarantine and inspection to prevent concurrent disease introductions.

Importations (transfers) of aquatic species that are part of current aquaculture practice appear to be substantial, but are presently undocumented. These include trade in "seed" of various carps and catfishes between Bangladesh and India, primarily along the western border, and the entry of post-larvae and broodstock of Penaeus monodon for culture and breeding in ponds and hatcheries in both the southeastern and southwestern regions of the country.

2.1.1 Penaeid shrimp

For tiger shrimp, the need to import nauplii and post-larvae is directly related to the availability of natural fry, which comprise 90% of the country's fry production, the limited hatchery production (only the remaining 10%), the perception that hatchery fry are generally of poor quality, and the need to have adequate supplies available for stocking during a limited window of time. As broodstock originate from the wild, and in Bangladesh are collected mainly off the southeastern coast, pressure to import broodstock occurs when local supplies are not available, or when they are perceived to have a disease problem, as happened in early 1998. These problems are rather intractable. Problems related to disease cannot be solved simply by banning importations. Even if such action could be effectively enforced, which it cannot be under the current conditions, they could be challenged under the terms of the World Trade Organization's Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Agreement, as constituting an unfair trade barrier. Additionally, as SEMBV is now enzootic in Bangladesh, reduction of disease losses due to this virus would still require substantial changes in culture practice (e.g., adoption of a closed, semi-intensive method to prevent disease entry via such methods of screening of post-larvae using Preliminary Chain Reaction (PCR) screening of post-larvae, treatment of water, and eradication of vector species present in the pond environment.

Importation of live broodstock, nauplii and post-larvae of tiger shrimp into Bangladesh poses a high disease risk. There appears to be a significant trade in nauplii and post-larvae, which enter the country primarily from Myanmar and India, but also from Thailand, and perhaps from elsewhere in Asia. The size of this trade varies on local availability of wild-caught and hatchery-produced post-larvae, and can at times be considerable. In 1995, the number of post-larvae imported from abroad was estimated at 50 million (Hossain 1997).

The most serious threat to penaeid culture and capture fisheries is posed by the importation of live broodstock collected from waters outside the northern Bay of Bengal. Two incidents of such importations, involving transport of shrimp said to have originated from waters off Sabah and Thailand, were mentioned to the consultant during interviews with farmers and hatchery managers as having taken place in 1998. The risk of introducing exotic disease with these importations is considered extremely high.

Importations from contiguous shrimp farming areas of India and Myanmar probably pose a smaller disease risk, as their pathogen fauna is likely to be similar to that already established in Bangladeshi waters. However, the possibility exists that new pathogens can be introduced into neighbouring countries by importations of shipments originating from areas outside the northern Bay of Bengal. As the extent of international importation into these areas has not been evaluated, the level of risk must thus be considered as high until demonstrated to be otherwise.

2.1.2 Finfish

Figures on the volume and species of finfishes imported for aquaculture are not available. In the past there have been importations of Chinese carps, and there is a continuing trade in these species with India, particularly between West Bengal and Bangladesh. Recently there have been importations of North African catfish or hybrid catfish from Thailand that have lead to the establishment and wide spread culture of these fish in Bangladesh and also in India. There is an urgent need to obtain data on the nature and volume of trade in freshwater finfishes. Brackishwater fish culture in Bangladesh is a by-product of extensive shrimp farming, where there is little or no control of juvenile fish entering the ponds during culture. At present there is no marine culture of finfish. Thus currently there appears to be no importation of brackishwater or marine fish for aquaculture. The current ad hoc introduction of freshwater fishes poses a very high risk of disease incursion, one that could be avoided with relative ease.

2.2 Ornamental fishes

There is a small ornamental fish trade in Bangladesh, centred in Dhaka. Hossain (1997) reported that Bangladesh imports nearly 140 species of aquarium fishes; however, a visit by the consultant to the ornamental fish dealers in Dhaka indicated that most of the trade comprises less that a dozen species. There are approximately 40 retailers of ornamental fishes in Dhaka, and of these, only 5-6 are involved in importation. These importers travel to such countries as Malaysia and Singapore to purchase fish and then ship the fish to Dhaka by air. It appears that few, if any, marine fishes are imported for the aquarium trade.

The trade in ornamental species poses a certain disease risk. Species such as goldfish and koi may be kept in outside ponds and may escape into natural waters. Intentional releases are also possible. Some of the species sold in the aquarium fish trade are also cultured as food fishes (e.g., Pangasius hypophthalmus). As with finfish raised in aquaculture, no data are available on the exact quantities and species of ornamentals imported. Such data is urgently needed.

2.3 Other Potential Sources of Disease Entry

There are a number of other potential routes of disease entry into Bangladesh. These include, in probable order risk significance,:

_ natural transport by migrations of infected aquatic animals, by birds and mammals, and of free-living stages carried by river and ocean currents.

_ trade in fresh chilled fish and shellfish, frozen fish and shellfish, and aquatic animal products such as aquatic animal feed.

Of these, the movements of pathogens by the natural migrations of aquatic animals is probably the most important means of disease transfer within the inland waters of Bangladesh. As previously mentioned, the Ganges River drainage basin encompasses much of northern India and all of Nepal, with some headwaters extending into China. Aquatic animals and their pathogens occurring in waters upstream of Bangladesh may easily be moved or migrate to lower reaches of the system. It therefore makes sense, when formulating a disease prevention strategy for Bangladesh, to consider the entire Ganges catchment basin as a single management zone.

The situation is somewhat analogous when considering the possibility of preventing disease incursions in marine and brackishwater species. Due to the opportunity for disease agents to be spread by natural means, there exists little opportunity to prevent the spread of pathogens once they are established in the waters of the northern Bay of Bengal. To be effective, any disease prevention strategy needs to encompass the entire contiguous coastal zone, and must thus be developed in collaboration with the governments of Myanmar and India.

Ballast water has increasingly been shown to be an important route for the introduction of exotic organisms (including fish and shellfish), both freshwater and marine, into new countries and regions of the world. The transmission of pathogens, both in ballast water, and in fish and shellfish carried in ballast water, has been poorly investigated, but may be highly important, particularly in brackishwater and marine environments. Shipping trade between India and Bangladesh, for example, is probably substantial and given the short transportation times involved, could easily result in the transfer of fish and shellfish and their pathogens. Information on shipping patterns and ballast water discharge procedures, for example, is needed to evaluate the threat posed.

Introduction of pathogens may also occur through transport on infected non-living fish and shell fish and their products (eg. chilled whole fish, frozen shellfish, animal feeds based on fish or shellfish), on the hulls of boats, and on imported equipment (fomites) used in aquaculture. The significance, if any, of these routes to Bangladesh requires investigation.

3.0 Exportation of Fish and Shellfish

3.1 Fish and Shellfish for Aquaculture

As previously mentioned, there exists an unquantified trade in freshwater finfish seed (Chinese carps and catfishes) with India. The Jessore area, located not far from the West Bengal border, is a major production area, and the export of carp fry to India is probably substantial. As this trade is unregulated there are no data available on species and volumes, and no detailed health checks are performed.

Recent work conducted by Dr. Donald Lightner and colleagues at the University of Arizona has demonstrated that frozen tiger shrimp originating from Asian aquaculture may contain viable yellowhead and whitespot virus. The possibility that shrimp imported from Asia for human consumption may represent a threat to the North American shrimp culture industry and to wild stocks is receiving increasing attention, and could conceivably lead to restrictions on importations or to a requirement for certification of origin from uninfected facilities.

As Bangladesh has a shortage of both post-larvae and broodstock of Penaeus monodon, there is, at present, no indication that live tiger shrimp are being exported. However, if hatchery production of post-larvae is expanded (currently estimated at only 10% of the domestic market) this trade will probably develop and expand.

3.2 Ornamental fishes

There is currently no local ornamental fish culture in Bangladesh. Hossain (1997) indicated that a few live "weed fish" are exported from Bangladesh, but as with other imports and exports, there is no record of the nature or extent of this trade. Thus at present, Bangladesh has no need, and thus no capacity, to provide health certification for exported ornamental fishes. Bangladesh would appear to be well suited for development of a tropical fish breeding industry, and promotion of this sector by the Government could lead to opportunities for small scale backyard fish culture by the rural population. In the future, Bangladesh may need expertise and capacity for health certification of ornamental fish to importing country standards.

4.0 Domestic Trade in Live Fish and Shellfish

As noted by Hossain (1997), there some 274 carp hatcheries in Bangladesh, giving rise to large, unquantified and unregulated trade in fry and broodstock for aquaculture production. A smaller trade also exists for catfishes. There is also some internal movement of wild-caught and hatchery-raised post-larvae and broodstock of Penaeus monodon.

5.0 Current Aquatic Animal Health Capacity in Bangladesh

5.1 Expertise and Facilities

Disease diagnostics for aquatic animals is a highly specialized field, requiring long term, in-depth training in such areas as histopathology and disease recognition, treatment and prevention, backed up by more specialized expertise in such areas as toxicology, virology, parasitology, bacteriology and epidemiology. A competent diagnostician typically has training to the B.Sc. level in an area of zoology (often fisheries), followed by M.Sc. level training in aquatic pathology, or a veterinary science degree, also followed by similar, in-depth specialized training. Short-term training courses in the various areas related to diagnostics are most useful for specialists who have already had basic and advanced training; these courses cannot substitute for in-depth long-term training and work experience in aquatic animal pathology. Such short-term courses, even given to Ph.D. level scientists with specialist degrees such as parasitology, bacteriology, etc. do not fully equip such staff to act as competent diagnosticians.

In Bangladesh, there exists very little expertise or capacity, either within the government, or in the university or private sectors in areas related to aquatic animal health.

Within the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL), Department of Fisheries (DOF) there exists no expertise or facilities dedicated to disease diagnosis. The Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), whose headquarters are in Mymesingh, is the Ministry's national lead agency for fisheries research. The BFRI operates three research stations, the Freshwater Station (FS), also in Mymesingh; the Riverine Station (RS), Chanpur; and the Marine Fisheries and Technology Station (MFTS), at Cox's Bazar. Some capacity to conduct research on aquatic animal diseases (particularly in parasitology and bacteriology) exists at the FS, where one Scientific Officer (Ms. B. Hansa Banu) is completing a Ph.D. locally at Bangladesh Agricultural University and another (Mr. Masud Hossain Khan) is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Stirling, Scotland, where he is completing a study on Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS). However, both facilities and expertise would need to be substantially upgraded in order to provide an international standard of routine diagnostics service. A similar level of capacity exists at the MFTS, where a small laboratory staffed by a single Scientific Officer (Mr. Abul Hossain) is operating. Both FS and MFTS (and probably the Riverine Station as well) have the basic infrastructure (buildings, ponds, tanks, etc.) which would permit establishment of more complete fish disease diagnostics facilities.

In the university sector, expertise in fisheries parasitology exists at the University of Dhaka, where Drs. A.T.A. Ahmed and J. D'Silva conduct research on parasites of freshwater fishes. Joint research on tropical aquaculture is currently being conducted with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Biology, University of Bergen, Norway. Under this program, Dr. D'Silva is currently participating in a project on the use of parasites as biological tags for hilsa, and a fully equipped parasitology laboratory has been established. Expertise on freshwater fish bacteriology (Prof. Md. B.R. Chowdhury), bacteriology and immunology (Dr. Mamunur Rashid), parasitology (Prof. K.J. Chandra), and histopathology (Dr. Gias Uddin Ahmed) exists in the Department of Aquaculture, BAU, where a fully functional laboratory capable of doing histopathology, parasitology and bacteriology has been developed through assistance from DFID. Work at BAU has focussed mainly on EUS in freshwater fish. At present, this is the only laboratory in Bangladesh equipped and dedicated to fish histopathology.

There appears to be no private sector expertise in aquatic animal pathology in Bangladesh. Shrimp growers in the Cox's Bazar area have occasionally used expertise from Taiwan and Thailand, however, the diagnostics capability of these individuals is unknown.

In general, it must be said that fish disease related research conducted in Bangladesh has yet to reach an international standard, as reflected by the few publications that have appeared in international peer-reviewed journals.

Outside the MOFL, the universities and private sector, facilities exist for the study of veterinary and human diseases that could be readily adapted to the diagnosis of aquatic animal diseases. Two such known to the consultant are the laboratories of the Central Veterinary Hospital and the excellent facilities at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, both in Dhaka. However, neither of these facilities could likely be dedicated to aquatic animal disease diagnostics on a long-term or permanent basis.

5.2 Current Status of the Knowledge of Parasites, Pathogens and Diseases of Aquatic Animals in Bangladesh

Because of the lack of local scientific expertise and because few foreign experts have worked in Bangladesh, the knowledge base on the parasites and pathogens of fish and shellfish is extremely limited. In total, there are only about 80 published articles dealing with this topic in the world literature. The fish fauna of Bangladesh is diverse, at least 260 species of freshwater (Rahman, 1989) and some 326 marine species (FishBase97) being recorded. Thus, it is clear that for the vast majority of species of fish and shellfish occurring in Bangladeshi waters, there exists no information on the identities and geographic distributions of their parasites and diseases. Knowledge of enzootic pathogens and their local distributions is fundamental to risk analyses for imported fish and shellfish. On a broader scale, the majority of fish and shellfish cultured in Bangladesh are introduced, and are also cultured widely in Asia and elsewhere. In many cases the pathogens of these cultured species have been studied, and occasionally, for some species such as the common carp and the tiger prawn, much information is available. Studies conducted in neighbouring countries will make identification of most pathogens of these species a relatively simple process.

6.0 Status of Legislation and Regulations on the Importation
and Exportation of Live Aquatic Animals

Copies of the various laws and regulations of Bangladesh dealing with fisheries, wildlife and the environment are to be found in Farooque and Hasan (1996), a copy of which is on file at the library of the IUCN, Dhaka. An examination of these documents by the consultant indicates that there are no laws or regulations enacted in Bangladesh dealing with the inspection or quarantine of live aquatic animals for disease agents. A full listing of the acts and regulations examined is given in the summary of the presentation given at the national workshop by the NCQ (Annex V, Part C).

For domestic livestock, authority to inspect is given under the "Livestock Importation Act, 1898", however, to date no policy or provision for quarantine and inspection of livestock has been developed, and thus no animal quarantine service of any nature has yet been established. Provision for the inspection and quarantine of plants has been in force since 1914, as is legislated under "The Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914".

As all animals are permitted essentially free entry or exit from Bangladesh, there exists no system for collection of import and export data related to the trade in aquatic animals (species, numbers, life stage, origin, destination, purpose, etc.). Access to such data is essential to planning quarantine and certification policy and conducting risk assessments for aquatic animals.

7.0 International Obligations

With regard to disease reporting, it should be noted that Bangladesh is a member of the World Animal Health Organization (the Organization International des Epizooties, O.I.E.), and thus has a disease reporting obligation that is being fulfilled under the recently developed OIE/NACA disease reporting system.

Bangladesh is a signatory of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which restricts trade in endangered and threatened species. No fish or shellfish of Bangladesh are listed under CITES appendices I and II (see Khan 1996).

8.0 Guidelines for Establishing a National Aquatic Animal Health Program for Bangladesh

The following section outlines the suggested steps to be taken by the Government of Bangladesh to develop capacity in Aquatic Animal Health, including possible quarantine sensu stricto and certification.

8.1 Activities

8.1.1 Establishment of National Committees

Composition: members drawn from senior government, chaired by an official of supraministerial level, composed of 6-8 members drawn from concerned departments (DOF, BFRI, Veterinary Service, Plant Quarantine, finance and planning), university, and private sectors.

Purpose: To develop a national master plan for aquatic animal health; to make recommendations/decisions on the need for a National Quarantine Service; to determine and review mandates of working groups; to assign responsibilities and review progress.

Composition: experts on fish ecology, genetics and diseases; quarantine and risk assessment; veterinary science and epidemiology

Purpose: To establish protocols (e.g., adaptation of ICES methods) for the evaluation of proposed introductions of aquatic animals into Bangladesh. To conduct reviews of proposed introductions, analyze associated risks, and make recommendations to GOB on whether or not such introductions should proceed, and if so, under what circumstances and restrictions.

Various working groups should be formed on recommendation of the Interministerial Committee on Aquatic Animal Health to develop proposals, work plans, and legislation. These might include, but not be limited to:

_ DOF committee to develop requirements and a proposal for establishment of Diagnostics Capacity for Aquatic Animal Diseases

_ Interministerial working group to develop requirements and an associated proposal for a National Quarantine Service and a National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory

_ Interministerial working group to consider legislation, regulatory and enforcement needs for aquatic animals, terrestrial animals and plants.

These working groups would be formed on an as-needed basis and would report to the ICAAH.

8.1.2 Data Collection and Analysis

One of the first essential tasks for informed decision making regarding the need for quarantine sensu stricto is the collection and analysis of data on the international and domestic trade in aquatic animals. The GOB should therefore set in place the necessary protocols, authority and means to collect this data at the earliest possible date.

_ Origin (country, locality, as precisely as possible; hatchery or facility of production, if cultured)

_ Health status, of lot or production facility, if known, including details of any certification or inspection

To obtain this information, it will probably be necessary to require importers to complete a detailed import/export form prior to import/export, and to ensure that a fully completed copy of the form has been submitted and accompanies each lot at the time of shipment. Key entry and exit points at international borders, sea ports, and airports will need to be identified and customs or fisheries personnel capable of verifying species identity and other important information assigned to meet and inspect shipments. An attempt will also need to be made to estimate the nature and extent of unregulated trade.

Initially, data collection efforts should be intensive, and data collated and analyzed on a quarterly basis. Once baseline statistics have been compiled, efforts can probably be reduced to a monitoring level.

Information on other sources of pathogen movement, such as ballast water and natural transmission patterns will also be useful in assessing the probability of disease incursions and the likelihood of success of any proposed measures for quarantine.

A survey will be needed to obtain similar data. This information would indicate current trade patterns within Bangladesh and will be necessary for developing plans for eradication and/or containment.

Collection of information on the species of parasites and pathogens present in the aquatic animals of Bangladesh, in imported shipments, and on new diseases occurring in the region should be an on-going activity.

Some of these activities are in progress (i.e., limited research at BFRI and universities), or under development (disease monitoring, participation in AAPQIS). However, efforts will need to be increased. Research should be encouraged by in-country research programs as a part of any post-graduate training, by joint projects with international agencies, and by collaboration with staff at national universities. These activities need to be brought under the authority of the proposed ICAAH.

As has been noted by many authors, there exists no reliable estimates on losses due to disease. Indeed, because export figures for captured and cultured Penaeus monodon are combined, there is not even data available on annual trends in aquaculture production for this key species.

8.2 Formulation of Proposals for Donor Funding

8.2.1 Proposal for Development of Diagnostics Capacity within the Department of Fisheries

An outline of a proposal for development of basic diagnostics capability within the Department of Fisheries is included as Annex II, Attachment A. Although it is suggested that three regional diagnostics centers be established, the proposal can be developed (based on perceived needs, national funding capability, and donor interest) to support one, two or all three such laboratories.

The DOF may wish to request FAO assistance to refine this outline into a final document, an activity which could be accomplished by a consultant, either national or international, aided by a national counterpart from the DOF, in about one week's time. However, it is strongly urged that the DOF establish a working group to develop the proposal, either with or within outside inputs.

8.2.2 Proposal to Establish a National Quarantine Service, Including a National Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory

Development of a National Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory should be seen as a long-term goal. Details of such a program are beyond the scope of this short consultancy. These should be developed only after the GOB has carefully made a decision concerning mandates regarding quarantine and inspection. As previously mentioned, the consultant strongly favors establishment of a National Quarantine Service, integrating plant, terrestrial and aquatic animal quarantine, inspection and research. The advantages, in terms of cost effectiveness, through sharing of expertise, facilities and support services seem obvious. Such an agency is also more likely to successfully integrate development, research, and enforcement, maximizing the chances of effective inspection and quarantine resulting from this effort. This initiative is also timely with regards to terrestrial animal quarantine, which has not yet been implemented in Bangladesh and is at a similar stage of planning development as is aquatic animal quarantine. An example of a possible organizational structure for national quarantine service is shown in Annex II, Attachment B, while a list of selected references relative to the development of an aquatic animal health program for Bangladesh is given in Annex II, Attachment C.

To this end, it is recommended (see Annex I and above) that the GOB establish a high level, senior interministerial committee to oversee establishment of an integrated quarantine service, transferring, as necessary, staff and facilities of the various departments.

Less desirable options would be the establishment of an integrated terrestrial and aquatic animal quarantine and inspection service, or the independent establishment of entirely separate services. In either case, the general principles outlined in this report are applicable.

A detailed proposal should be prepared within the next year, so that project implementation could begin by year 2000. It is suggested that a time frame of 10 years be used for long term planning, and that the project would progress in three phases of 3-4 years duration each, as such a time frame is usually viewed favourably by donor agencies. Phase I would focus primarily on staff development, laboratory set up, in-country research, and evaluation of quarantine and certification needs. Phase II would include further staff development (Ph.D. level training), training and technology transfer to industry and private sector, continued in-country research, and planning and initiation of quarantine sensu stricto and certification, if analysis indicates that these programs are both necessary and feasible. Phase III would complete staff training and development, continue and expand extension activities, include an intensified research program, and continue quarantine development, if needed.

It can be expected that such a program will require major funding by both GOB and donor agencies, 1.2 - 2 million USD being needed for each of three phases, to cover the costs of staff development, equipment and research alone, or a total of $4.5-6.0 million for the entire project. It would be necessary for the GOB to find funding for infrastructure (laboratories, ponds, offices, etc.), staff salaries, and basic operational costs.

8.3 Need to Enhance On-Farm Prevention and Management of Disease

As previously noted, preventing the entry of new pathogens into Bangladesh will be extremely difficult, and most major pathogens affecting fish and shellfish in the Asian Region appear to be already established in culture facilities and/or the natural environment of the country. Additionally, having entered the country, pathogens can be easily transmitted throughout most of Bangladesh by human mediated and natural means. Therefore, to a large extent, successful aquaculture production will depend on the use of improved on-farm management. As outlined in the consultancy report of Dr. Simon Funge-Smith [TCP/BGD/6714(A), Field Document No. 1], prevention of entry of pathogens into individual culture facilities, and development of management strategies to maximize the likelihood of infected stocks reaching marketable size without suffering mass mortality are critical components. To achieve this, priority should be given to developing better protocols for farm management, ensuring an adequate domestic supplies of healthy, uninfected post-larvae and fry for stocking, prevention of entry of diseases into ponds prior to and after stocking, the use of stress reduction techniques and improved monitoring to permit emergency harvesting, if necessary.

9.0 References

Farooque, M. and S.R. Hasan. 1996. Laws Regulating Environment in Bangladesh. Bangl. Environ Lawyers Assoc. (BELA)

Khan, M.A. 1996. CITES: A Handbook for Bangladesh. Nature Conservation56 p. Movement (NACOM), Dhaka,

Rahman, A.K. 1989. Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. The Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 364 p.

Annex II, Attachment A
Outline for a Proposal for Donor Support to Establish Diagnostics Capacity within the Department of Fisheries

To establish basic capability to diagnose, and where possible, prevent or treat diseases in brackishwater and freshwater aquaculture and wild stocks of fish and shellfish.

Summary: The project would establish basic diagnostic facilities at three localities in Bangladesh, one center in the southwest (Cox's Bazar/Chittagong area) to service the prawn industry, assist development of brackishwater finfish culture and investigate disease problems and mortalities in wild stocks; a similar facility in the southeast (Satkhira/Khulna area) to provide similar services to aquaculturists; and a third centre in the central area (Jessore, Mymesingh or Dhaka), to service freshwater aquaculture and investigate disease problems in wild freshwater fishes. Each center would be staffed by a diagnostician assisted by two technicians, and would have the basic infrastructure and necessary equipment needed to hold aquatic animals and conduct routine diagnostic studies. The project assumes that long-term planning by the GOB would include a broader project to develop a national quarantine service with a national aquatic animal health research laboratory which would be mandated to provide specialized expertise and backup services to the DOF diagnostics laboratories..

M.Sc. Level Training - Three DOF staff would be selected for overseas or regional training to the M.Sc. level, with emphasis on histopathology and disease diagnostics. Research conducted under the M.Sc. program would be conducted in-country, and funds allocated for research, including supervisory visits by university staff.

Technician Training - Six DOF staff would be selected for training as aquatic animal health technicians. Funds would be allocated for 3 months training at a regional lead center in basic fish health laboratory procedures, including histology, sampling techniques, pathogen identification, etc. Further on-the-job training would be provided by organizing short term training/research visits by regional experts.

As in-kind contribution, the GOB would arrange laboratory and office space within existing DOF facilities, or by arrangement with BFRI, use space at their stations. Renovation of facilities would need to be accomplished to ensure proper laboratory design (bench space, power, water, temporary holding facilities for aquatic animals, etc.).

Necessary equipment and rough cost estimates are given below under funding. In addition to specific equipment and supplies needed for histopathology, access to equipment and vehicles for field sampling is necessary, but not budgeted.

Annex II, Attachment C
Bibliography of Selected Literature on Fish Health, Quarantine and Certification relative to Bangladesh

The following references are included as an aid to Government of Bangladesh staff charged with developing and implementing a national aquatic animal health program. Additional literature may be found in the references given below.

ADB/NACA. 1991. Fish Health Management in Asia-Pacific. Report on a Regional Study and Workshop on Fish Disease and Fish Health Management. ADB Aquaculture Dep. Rep. Ser. No. 1. Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand, 627 p..

ADB/NACA. 1991. Bangladesh. p. 89-92. In Fish Health Management in Asia-Pacific. Report on a Regional Study and Workshop on Fish Disease and Fish Health Management. ADB Agricult. Dep. Rep. Ser. No. 1. Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand, 627 p.

Andrews, J.D. 1980. A review of introductions of exotic oysters and biological planning for new introductions. Mar. Fish.. Rev. 42: 1-11

Arthur, J.R. 1987. Fish Quarantine and Fish Diseases in South and Southeast Asia: 1986 Update. Report of the Asian Fish Health Network Workshop, Manila, 30th May 1986. Asian Fish. Soc., Fish Health Sect., Spec. Publ. No. 1

Arthur, J.R. 1995. Efforts to prevent the international spread of diseases of aquatic organisms, with emphasis on the Southeast Asian region. p. 9-25. In: M. Shariff, J.R. Arthur and R.P.Subasinghe. Diseases in Asian Aquaculture II. Fish Health Section, Asian Fish. Soc.. Manila.

Arthur, J.R. 1996. Fish and shellfish quarantine - the reality for Asia-Pacific. Proceedings of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Expert Consultation on Aquaculture Health Management in the Asia-Pacific. 22-24 May 1995, Serdang, Malaysia.

Arthur, J.R., and K. Ogawa. 1996. A brief overview of disease problems in the culture of marine finfishes in East and Southeast Asia. p.9-31. In K.L. Main and C. Rosenfeld. (eds.) Aquaculture Health Management Strategies for Marine Fishes. Proceedings of a Workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii, October 9-13, 1995. Oceanic Institute, Makapu'u Point, Hawaii.

Bauer, O.N. 1991. Spread of parasites and diseases of aquatic organisms by acclimatization: a short review. J. Fish. Biol. 39: 679-686

Boustead, N.C. 1982. Fish diseases recorded in New Zealand, with a discussion on potential sources and certification procedures. Fish. Res. Div. Occas. Publ. No. 34, 29 p.

Council of the European Communities. 1991. Council directive concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products. Off. J. Eur. Comm. 19.2.91:L46/1-L46/17.

Davy, F.B., and A. Chouinard. (eds.) 1983. . Fish Quarantine and Fish Diseases in Southeast Asia. Report of a Workshop held in Jakarta, 7-10 December, 1982, IDRC 210e, Ottawa:79 p.

Davy, B., and M. Graham. (eds.) 1979. Diseases of Fish Cultured for Food in Southeast Asia: Report of a Workshop held in Cisaura, Bogor, Indonesia, 28 November-1 December 1978. IDRC139e, Ottawa, 32 p.

De Kinkelin, P., and R.P. Hedrick. 1991. International veterinary guidelines for the transport of live fish or fish eggs. Ann. Rev. Fish Dis., 27-40.

DFO. 1984. Fish Health Protection Regulations Manual of Compliance. Misc. Spec. Publ. No.31, Revised, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa, Canada, :39 p.

Eldredge, L.G. 1993. Introductions of commercially significant aquatic organisms to the Pacific Islands. Pacific Science Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Farley, C.A. 1988. Mass mortalities and infectious lethal diseases in bivalve molluscs and associations with geographic transfers of populations. J. Shellfish Res. 7: 554

FAO. 1995. Report of the FAO Regional Expert Consultation on Aquaculture Health Management in Asia and the Pacific. Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor D.E., 22-24 May, 1995. FAO Fish. Rep. No. 529, 24 p.

Hastein, T. Preparation and applications of the International Aquatic Animal Health Code and Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases of the Office International des Epizooties. Rev. Sci. Techn. Off. Intern. Epizoot. 15: 723-731.

Hoffman, G.L. 1970. Intercontinental and transcontinental dissemination and transfaunation of fish parasites with emphasis on whirling disease. In, A Symposium on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish, American Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 5, p. 69-81.

Hossain, M.A. 1997. Status of fish and shrimp disease diagnostic services, quarantine and health certification in Bangladesh. p. 6-12. In Country Reports from the 3rd Annual South East Asia Aquatic Disease Control Project Network Co-ordinators Meeting, Penang, Malaysia, 8-12 December, 1997. South East Asia Aquatic Disease Control Project and Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. (draft)

Hossain, M.A. 1997. Bangladesh. p. 27-34. In Annex V: Country Papers. Humphrey, J., J.R. Arthur, R.P. Subasinghe, and M.J. Phillips. Aquatic animal quarantine and health certification in Asia. Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Health and Quarantine Guidelines for the Responsible Movement (Introduction and Transfer) of Aquatic Organisms. Bangkok, Thailand, 28 January 1996. FAO Fish. Techn. Pap. No. 373, 153 p.

Humphrey, J.D. 1993. Risks associated with movements of marine animals: disease and quarantine implications. Proceedings, South Pacific Commission First SPC/OIE Regional Technical Meeting of Heads of Veterinary Services, Noumea, New Caledonia.

Humphries [Humphrey], J.D. 1995. Introductions of aquatic animals to the Pacific Islands: disease threats and guidelines for quarantine. Perspectives in Aquatic Exotic Species Management in the Pacific Islands, Vol. II, 53. p. South Pacific Comm., Noumea, New Caledonia.

Humphrey, J.D. 1995. Australian Quarantine Policies and Practices for Aquatic Animals and their Products. a Review for the Scientific Working Party on Aquatic Animal Quarantine. Bureau of Resource Sciences, Canberra.

Humphrey, J., J.R. Arthur. R.P. Subasinghe, and M.J. Phillips. 1997. Aquatic Animal Quarantine and Health Certification in Asia. Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Health and Quarantine Guidelines for the Responsible Movement (Introduction and Transfer) of Aquatic Organisms. Bangkok, Thailand, 28 January, 1996. FAO Fish. Techn. Pap. No. 373, 153 p.

ICES. 1984. Guidelines for the Implementation of the ICES Code of Practice Concerning Introductions and Transfers of Marine Species. Coop. Res. Rep. No. 130, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Denmark, August 1984. 20 p.

ICES. 1991. Overview of current molluscan disease control measures. ICES Working Group on Pathology and Diseases of Marine Organisms. Ostende, Belgium, February 19-22, 1991. 23 p.

ICES. 1993. Report on the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms. International Council for Exploration of the Sea, Aberdeen 26-28 April, 1993.

ICES. 1995. ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms 1994. (Preprint, June 1995), International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 5 p.

Langdon, J.S. 1990. Disease risks of fish introductions and translocations. In Introduced and Translocated Fishes and their Ecological Effects. , D.A. Pollard. (ed.) Australian Society for Fish Biology Workshop, Magnetic Island, 24-25 August, 1989, Bureau of Rural Resources Proceedings 8: 98-107.

Mazid, M.A., and A.N. Hasna Banu. 1998. Health certification and quarantine of aquatic animal [sic] in Bangladesh. Regional Programme for the Development of Technical Guidelines on Quarantine and Health Certification, and Establishment of Information Systems for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals in Asia. Bangkok, Thailand, 12-20 January, 1998. FAO/NACA/OIE, January 1998, 17 p.

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Norton, J.H., R.D. Brayley, and I.G. Anderson. 1993. A quarantine protocol to prevent the spread of parasitic diseases of giant clams (Tridacnidae) via translocation. In Biology and Mariculture of Giant Clams: A Workshop Held in Conjunction with the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium 21-26 June 1992, Guam, USA. .K. Pitt (ed.). ACIAR Proceedings No. 47, p. 24-26

NZMAF. 1992. The Disease Risks Posed by Tropical Fish and New Zealand National Agricultural Security Service Standard Quarantine Procedures. New Zealand Min. Agricult. Fish., 15 p.

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OIE. 1997. Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases. 2nd Ed. Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France. 252 p.

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Roberts, R.J. 1981. Development of a Fish Quarantine System for Indonesia. Report on Visit to Indonesia on Behalf of FAO, Rome. 22.10.81 - 9.11.81. Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland 61 p.

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Table of Contents

List of Acronyms

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Items Related to Project Activities

2. 1 National Quarantine Workshop

2.2 Participation in Project Training Program

2.3 Collaboration with the National Consultant on Quarantine (NCQ)

3.0 Items related to Regional Project TCP/RAS/6417(A)

3.1 Assistance to the National Co-ordinator (NC) for Bangladesh

3.2 Collaboration with DFID (UK)

4.0 Recommendations Regarding the Development of Expertise in Aquatic Animal Health, Quarantine and Certification in Bangladesh

4.1 Background

4.2 Recommendations

Annex IlI Consultant's Terms of Reference

Annex IV ITINERARY, PERSONNEL MET AND ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN

Annex V Documents Relating to the Bangladesh National Quarantine Workshop

Annex V, Part A Technical Session for the Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Annex V, Part B Technical Paper I - Introduction to Quarantine and the International Situation

Annex V, Part C Summary of Presentation given at the National Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Technical Paper II: Status of Aquatic Animal Health, Quarantine and Legislation in Bangladesh_

Introduction

Status of Aquatic Animal Health in Bangladesh Diseases and Pathogens

Introduction of Exotic Fishes

Risks of introduction of exotic animals

Expertise and Facilities available

Quarantine and Legislation

Recommendations

Annex V, Part D Recommendations Adopted in the Workshop on Aquatic Animal Quarantine

Recommendations

Short-Term Recommendations

Long-Term Recommendations

Annex VI Outline of Work to Be Accomplished by the NCQ

Annex I

1.0 Background

2.0 Jurisdiction, Administrative Structure and Responsibilities

3.0 Surveillance and Monitoring

3.1 International Trade in Aquatic Animals

3.2 National Aquatic Animal Pathogen Database

3.3 Monitoring of Disease Outbreaks

4.0 Development of Capacity

4.1 Manpower Development

4.2 Infrastructure

4.2.1 Establishment of Diagnostics Centers

4.2.2 Establishment of a National Center for Aquatic Animal Health

5.0 Legislation and Enforcement

5.1 Legislation to Restrict Importation of Exotic Species Likely to Establish in Bangladesh

5.2 Legislation for Quarantine "sensu stricto"

5.3 Need for Policy on Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic Animals

6.0 Quarantine

6.1 Border Inspection and Quarantine

6.2 Quarantine of Species Proposed for Introduction

6.3 Need for Risk Assessments

7.0 International Responsibilities and Activities

8.0 Resources and Funding

9.0 Summary of Recommendations

Annex Il

1.0 Background

1.1 Introductions of Aquatic Animals

1.2 Pathogen Introductions

1.3 Overriding Biogeographical Considerations

2.0 Avenues of Disease Entry into Bangladesh and A Preliminary Assessment of Associated Risk

2.1 Importation of Aquatic Animals for Aquaculture

2.1.1 Penaeid shrimp

2.1.2 Finfish

2.2 Ornamental fishes

2.3 Other Potential Sources of Disease Entry

3.0 Exportation of Fish and Shellfish

3.1 Fish and Shellfish for Aquaculture

3.2 Ornamental fishes

4.0 Domestic Trade in Live Fish and Shellfish

5.0 Current Aquatic Animal Health Capacity in Bangladesh

5.1 Expertise and Facilities

5.2 Current Status of the Knowledge of Parasites, Pathogens and Diseases of Aquatic Animals in Bangladesh

6.0 Status of Legislation and Regulations on the Importation and Exportation of Live Aquatic Animals

7.0 International Obligations

8.0 Guidelines for Establishing a National Aquatic Animal Health Program for Bangladesh

8.1 Activities