Thumbnail Image

Strengthening Biosecurity (Policy and Farm Level) Governance to Deal with Tilapia Lake Virus - TCP/INT/3707 (Phase 1) and TCP/INT/3902 (Phase 2)

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 8

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) The emergence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) poses a significant threat to the sustainability of Nile tilapia, the second most farmed finfish species worldwide. Nile tilapia serves as a vital source of accessible animal protein, income for fish farmers and fishers, and contributes substantially to both domestic and export revenues. In 2015, the global production of tilapia, encompassing both aquaculture and capture, reached 6.4 million tonnes, valued at approximately USD 9.8 billion, with international trade amounting to USD 1.8 billion. TiLV has been verified in a number of countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There is a strong possibility that the distribution of the virus extends further than currently acknowledged, posing a substantial threat to tilapia farming on a global scale. Although there are no public health implications associated with this pathogen, there exists a notable danger of TiLV spreading both within and between continents through the transportation of infected live tilapia, particularly in the absence of adequate biosecurity measures. The economic effects of TiLV has had significant consequences in a number of regions.  In Israel, the wild catch of tilapia, primarily the Sarotherodon galilaeus species, in the Sea of Galilee saw a substantial decline. From an average of 257 tonnes per year, catch numbers plummeted to a mere 8 tonnes per year in 2008, a decline directly attributed to TiLV-induced disease.  In Thailand, TiLV outbreaks in 2015 and 2016 resulted in fish mortality rates ranging from 20 to 90 percent. Records indicate widespread deaths among farmed Nile tilapia and red tilapia hybrids. Countries that cultivate tilapia must remain vigilant and implement suitable risk management strategies, such as improving diagnostic testing for imported stocks and unexplained tilapia mortalities, promptly reporting to biosecurity authorities, conducting active surveillance, launching public information campaigns, and establishing contingency plans. These measures are crucial for mitigating the continued spread and potential socio-economic consequences of this emerging disease. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) plays a pivotal role in preventing the further spread and negative impacts of TiLV while also facilitating communication and dissemination of risks and knowledge on effective aquaculture biosecurity.

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Fortalecimiento de la gobernanza sobre bioseguridad (a nivel de políticas y granjas) para hacer frente al virus de la tilapia de lago - TCP/INT/3707 (Fase 1) y TCP/INT/3902 (Fase 2) 2024
    Also available in:
    La aparición del virus de la tilapia de lago (TiLV) supone una amenaza significativa para la sostenibilidad de la tilapia del Nilo, la segunda especie de peces de cultivo más criada en todo el mundo. La tilapia del Nilo es una fuente vital de proteína animal accesible, supone ingresos para piscicultores y pescadores, y contribuye sustancialmente tanto a los ingresos domésticos como a los de exportación. En 2015, la producción mundial de tilapia, que abarca tanto la acuicultura como la pesca, alcanzó los 6,4 millones de toneladas, valoradas en aproximadamente 9 800 millones de USD, con un comercio internacional que ascendió a 1 800 millones de USD. Se ha señalado la presencia de TiLV en varios países de Asia, África y América Latina. Existe una fuerte posibilidad de que la distribución del virus se extienda más allá de lo actualmente reconocido, representando una amenaza sustancial para la acuicultura de la tilapia a nivel mundial. Aunque no hay implicaciones para la salud pública asociadas con este patógeno, existe un notable peligro de que el TiLV se propague tanto dentro como entre continentes mediante el transporte de tilapias vivas infectadas, especialmente en ausencia de medidas de bioseguridad adecuadas.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    A survey of national emergency preparedness and response (EPR) systems. FAO Project TCP/INT/3501: Strengthening biosecurity governance and capacities for dealing with the serious shrimp infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) disease 2018
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    As part of the FAO project Strengthening biosecurity governance and capacities for dealing with the serious shrimp infectious myonecrosis Strengthening biosecurity governance and capacities for dealing with the serious shrimp infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) disease, the FAO undertook a self-assessment questionnaire-based survey of the aquatic animal diseases emergency preparedness and response (EPR) systems of six participating countries, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico (representing South/Central America) and China, Indonesia and Thailand (representing Asia), with a view to developing recommendations for improved performance. Current system strengths and weaknesses were identified by comparing each country’s EPR system elements against those elements needed for a comprehensive (ideal world) EPR system based on FAO and OIE publications (and the model used in Australia). The questionnaire covered three broad systems components: administration (e.g. resource allocation and legislation), operational components (including early warning, early detection and early response systems) and operational support systems (such as information management and communications systems). The questionnaire was structured into four sections: (1) general administration, (2) operational components, (3) support systems and (4) additional information. Section 1 (General Administration) contained questions aimed at generating information on the administrative structure and the scope of responsibilities of the Competent Authority on various elements (e.g. communication, risk analysis, contingency plan, personnel skills, etc.) that are essential when dealing with an aquatic emergency response. Section 2 (Aquatic EPR System Elements) contained questions on the priority system elements identified by the OIE; namely, early warning, early response and early detection systems. Section 3 (Support Systems) contained questions about broader supporting systems in relation to legislation, information management, communications and resourcing. Section 4 (Additional information) presented an opportunity for countries to provide any information or raise issues not adequately addressed in the questionnaire. The self-assessment survey provided insight into each country’s capabilities in terms of policies, procedures and institutional capabilities in place to detect the incursion of an emergency aquatic animal disease and to respond to that incursion by containing or eradicating the disease. Six key areas of need where EPR systems were not well developed included the following: stakeholder consultation, systems audit/review, simulation exercises, education/awareness building, documentation and dedicated resourcing. Analysis of the survey responses form the basis of 20 recommendations aimed at improving the administration and operation of national EPR systems with respect to early warning, early detection and early response to emergency aquatic animal disease incursions.  
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Enhancing national and regional capacities to deal with Tilapia lake virus 2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a recently described disease affecting wild and farmed tilapines. Tilapias are farmed globally and are the second most important aquaculture species in terms of volumes produced, providing a key source of affordable animal protein, income to fish farmers and fishers, and domestic and export earnings. Infection with TiLV has caused extremely variable mortalities (ranging from 0 to 90 percent ) and may pose a great threat to the tilapia sector. The virus was first recognized in Israel in 2011 and was assumed to be linked to previously unexplained outbreaks in Israel in 2009. At present, it has been reported in three continents (Asia, Africa and South America) and the number of countries where the agent has been detected is likely to increase rapidly as a result of increased awareness, surveillance and availability of diagnostic methods. While there is no public health concern for this pathogen, there is a significant risk of TiLV being translocated both inter- and intra-continentally through the movement of infected live tilapias in the absence of appropriate biosecurity measures. FAO monitors TiLV, provides technical assistance and works with FAO member governments and their constituents as well as development partners and searches for resources to support the tilapia sector and the communities dependent on it.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.