Research and training on fish diseases at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department in 2000-2004: A review

Abstract

This paper reviews various research and training activities on fish diseases at the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in Iloilo, Philippines. The activities were implemented through the "Regional Fish Disease Project" of the Government of Japan Trust Fund starting in March 2000. A total of 29 research studies were conducted from 2000-2004 in the following aspects: (1) establishment and standardization of diagnostic methods; (2) biology and pathogenesis of disease pathogens; (3) disease prevention and control; (4) establishment of evaluation methods for residual chemicals in aquaculture products; and (5) epizootiology and prevention of koi herpesvirus disease. Some of these studies were conducted by scientists from the Department of Fisheries in Thailand, and from the Marine Fisheries Research Department (MFRD) of SEAFDEC in Singapore. Two sessions of hands-on training on "Important Viral Diseases of Shrimp and Marine Fish" was implemented in 2002 and 2003. Participants from the SEAFDEC member countries were funded by the project to attend the training course. The course consisted of both lecture and practical hands-on sessions. The latter focused on the use of molecular tools and other important techniques in the diagnosis of viral diseases of shrimp and marine fish. This review also provides information on publications such as proceedings, manuals, review articles, scientific papers, terminal report, annual reports, flyers, pamphlets and others as the outputs of research activities and international meetings that were organized with financial support from the project.