The Aquatic Animal Health Division (AAHD) provides regulatory oversight and science-based advice to support a healthy and sustainable aquaculture industry. The Division conducts active and passive surveillance, epidemiological studies, and applied research to detect aquatic animal diseases and prevent the spread of those diseases. It promotes biosecurity and risk management practices and monitors compliance with aquatic animal health standards. Under the Aquaculture Act 2023 and associated regulations, the Chief Aquaculture Veterinarian (CAV) has the authority to implement measures necessary to mitigate disease risks to cultured aquatic animal populations and prevent the spread of pathogen, parasites and disease and to protect the health and welfare of cultured aquatic organisms.
Aquatic animal health laboratory facilities are located in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, and St. Alban’s. The laboratory located in St. Alban’s, the Centre for Aquaculture Health and Development, is a state-of-the-art facility that enables diagnostic testing within the province. The AAHD conducts laboratory diagnostics as part of regulatory oversight for cultured aquatic animals.
The areas of responsibility include:
- Plan, develop, and implement aquatic animal health monitoring programs that enable oversight under the Aquaculture Act, 2023 and associate regulations while promoting sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector in the province.
- Provide regulatory oversight of aquatic animal health through surveillance, audits, contingency planning, epidemiology, and biosecurity programs.
- Conduct aquatic animal health sampling, monitoring, and diagnostic testing for cultured finfish and shellfish.
- Monitor responses to reportable diseases and abnormal mortality events, including enhanced surveillance and biosecurity audits.
- Order tests or other veterinary diagnostics to be made to try to determine the nature and source of reportable disease.
- Establish requirements for integrated pest management plans, biosecurity plans, aquatic animal health plans, fish disposal plans and contingency plans.
- Conduct applied research (including oceanography and epidemiology) to inform the Minister on key aquatic animal health issues for the aquaculture industry.
Contact
Aquatic Animal Health Division
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-0387