Aquatic Animal Therapeutant, Chemical and Vaccine Policy

Background

Good aquatic animal health management is essential for successful aquatic animal production and should be based on integrated health management practices. These practices emphasize disease prevention and include the management of host, pathogen and environment. Vaccines can be a useful tool to prevent disease. To help maintain a healthy environment, water treatment chemicals may be used. Disease may nevertheless occur. Therapeutants may be used to alleviate animal stress and help treat disease.

The number of therapeutants or vaccines federally approved for use in aquatic animal production is limited. The U.S. aquaculture industry is relatively small. Programs must be developed that encourage vaccine and therapeutant development.

Policy

NAA encourages:

1. Use of federally approved vaccines, therapeutants and water treatment chemicals by all aquatic animal producers.
2. Adoption of the NAA Aquatic Animal Producers Quality Assurance Program.
3. Cooperative approaches to obtaining additional vaccine, therapeutant or water treatment approvals for use in production and maintenance of aquatic species.
4. Educational programs that inform producers about fish health management practices and proper use of therapeutants and other aquatic animal remedies to treat aquatic animal disease.
5. Development of preventive measures (e.g. vaccines, improved breeding practices and management practices) to diminish the needs for disease treatments.
6. Development and approval of therapeutants that are efficacious, environmentally safe and economical.