AUSTRALIA–INDONESIA JOINT SYMPOSIUM IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Jakarta, 13-17 September 2006
Development of rapid diagnostic techniques in Asian aquaculture
Dr Brian Jones, Principal Fish Pathologist, Department of Fisheries Government (WA) and
Adjunct Associate Professor, Murdoch School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Perth,
Western Australia
Aquaculture is the only primary production sector that continues to show real growth and, as world demand for seafood continues to grow, aquaculture will become the leading source of seafood proteins. This growth is constrained by diseases affecting molluscs, fish and crustaceans. Diseases include both known and emerging diseases and present several challenges including: lack of skilled diagnosticians at both the field and laboratory level, lack of cheap effective diagnostic tools, and lack of therapies and management practices underpinned by a lack of understanding of invertebrate immunology.
This talk will concentrate on the problems of training and of competency standards; the need for development of reliable test methodologies that are 'fit for purpose' and the urgent need, identified by FAO and NACA, for quality assurance in all these areas both in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr Brian Jones is Principal Fish Pathologist for the Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia and Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Dr Jones is state representative on the Australian Aquatic Animal Health Committee and chair of its technical subcommittee responsible for oversight and development of Australian aquatic animal standard diagnostic techniques. Dr Jones is also a member of the executive committee of the Fish Health section of the Asian Fisheries Society. He has over 35 years of experience in aquatic animal health and has published over 100 papers, book chapters and technical reports.
