By John Dawes

Ornamental Fish International used the perfect opportunity presented by Aquarama 2009 (held May 28-31 in Suntec, Singapore) to launch, “Biosecurity in the Ornamental Aquatic Industry,” the fourth in its series of trade-specific books.

What is meant by the term “biosecurity?” Strictly speaking, it refers to preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risks posed by the theft of genes and other bio-materials from laboratories. People frequently use the term “biosafety,” on the other hand, in relation to the measures available to reduce risks of contamination by viral, bacterial or other agents.

It is the latter of these that forms the focus of this book. However, the term that is widely used in both agriculture and aquaculture, as well as by governments and scientists in relation to the reduction of contamination risks, is not “biosafety” but ”biosecurity.” OFI has, therefore, followed this widely-accepted trend.

After an introduction that sets the scene by defining terms and highlighting the need for biosecurity, the text discusses all the serious well-known diseases in great detail, along with a collection of conditions that are difficult to prevent but can be controlled. Also included are descriptions of the most important analytical techniques currently in use, such as PCR, ELISA and Bluspot.

The book then provides an overview of risk factors, followed by a detailed treatment of their levels as they apply to the different links in the chain of custody, from collectors to retailers. This chapter provides some very interesting, as well as unlikely/surprising potential revelations, such as the risks posed by droppings from geckos that live inside fish houses in tropical regions.

Other notable chapters include the following topics: tools (including a description of the potentially revolutionary technique of DNA multi-fish disease scanning), disinfection (including advantages and disadvantages of the different options available), vaccination (its relevance and applicability), stress and the immune system (including the importance of top-quality water, dealing with stress, etc.) and a brief conclusion that emphasises the need for, and growing importance of, biosecurity.

I think that “Biosecurity in the Ornamental Aquatic Industry”—written by Gerald Bassleer (OFI President), Alex Ploeg (OFI Secretary General) and Roberto Hensen (OFI Secretariat)—should be regarded as essential reading by every single member of the ornamental aquatic community. <HOME>