Committees with Responsibilities for Aquatic Animal Health

Australia's aquatic animal health management policies and program implementation are overseen by consultative and ministerial committees.

The committees range from the operational (industry) and technical (scientific) levels devoted to aquatic animal health up to a committee at the ministerial level where a part of its work addresses aquatic animal health issues that require high-level policy endorsement.

The 2 committees to which the Aquatic Animal Health Program has direct input are the Sub–Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH) and Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (Aquatic CCEAD).

Sub–Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH) is an advisory committee to Animal Health Committee (AHC), providing high-level scientific and technical advice to the AHC in supporting policy and program development on national aquatic animal health affecting the capture and recreational fishing industries; aquaculture industries; and the ornamental fish industry. SCAAH comprises representation from the Australian, state and Northern Territory and New Zealand governments, the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory and Australian universities. Other aquatic animal health experts from both government and non government agencies—including specialists from academia, industry and the private sector may also be invited to participate.

SCAAH is chaired by a member of AHC.

Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (Aquatic CCEAD) coordinates a national response to aquatic animal disease emergencies. This advisory committee is made up of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, a representative from Biosecurity Australia, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the chief veterinary officer (or the director of the fisheries department) in each state and territory government, and the head of the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Technical representatives from industry are also included. The Aquatic CCEAD helps to ensure that the most effective technical response is implemented.

Animal Health Committee (AHC) provides scientific and technical advice on animal (including aquatic animal) health issues to PISC via PIHC as required. AHC comprises of Australian state and territory and New Zealand Chief Veterinary Officers and representatives from the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), Biosecurity Australia, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), and Animal Health Australia. The committee drives and manages high level strategic policy development, operational strategies and standards for government in animal health, domestic quarantine, animal welfare and veterinary public health. It also provides a mechanism to enable national consultation and to facilitate a nationally consistent government approach to animal health and welfare issues of concern to government and other stakeholders.

Sub–Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (SCAHLS) develops, maintains and reviews national operating procedures and systems for use by all jurisdictions including Local Disease Control Centres (LDCC) and State Disease Control Headquarters (SDCHQ) operations. The Sub-Committee also coordinates the establishment of consistent legislative frameworks for Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) preparedness and responses and reviews and advises on operational issues affecting EAD prevention, preparedness and response programs and cross border responses. SCEAD is also responsible for identifying resourcing issues associated with the implementation of national operational procedures for EADs.

The following committees are either responsible for high-level decisions on aquatic animal health as part of their work, or have interest in aquatic animal health policies and programs through their work on animal health or resource management.  

Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) comprises state and territory primary industries ministers and is chaired by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. PIMC considers agricultural issues of national importance.

Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) is the standing committee to PIMC and manages the work of PIMC. It comprises the CEOs of state and territory and Australian Government departments of agriculture, and representatives from New Zealand and the CSIRO.

National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) is the advisory committee to the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC), Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC), Natural Resource Management Standing Committee (NRMSC) and Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC).

NBC replaced the Primary Industries Health Committee from 1 July 2008. All biosecurity issues, including environmental, animal (including aquatic) and plant biosecurity issues, will be considered by the NBC, with a view to resolution or for the development of advice to PISC/NRMSC and PIMC/NRMMC as appropriate. Given that the membership of the NRMSC and NRMMC represents both primary production and environmental, most issues will be directed to the NRMSC/NRMMC.

For further information contact the NBC Secretariat.

Sub-committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) is an advisory committee to AHC and facilitates the networking between government, CSIRO, private and university animal health laboratories and operates to establish, implement and monitor professional and technical standards within these laboratories. SCAHLS seeks to sustain and improve the quality of livestock (including aquatic) and livestock products and to assure market access through the application of best practice to veterinary laboratory services. SCAHLS consults regularly with SCAAH on aquatic animal health issues.

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) consists of the Australian, state and territory, and New Zealand government ministers with responsibility for natural resources management policy issues.

Natural Resource Management Standing Committee (NRMSC) is a sub-committee of NRMMC comprising relevant heads/CEOs of Australian, state and territory, and New Zealand government agencies with responsibility for natural resources management policy issues.

Marine and Coastal Committee (MACC) – advises and supports the NRMSC (and PISC, as appropriate) on issues of national significance relating to the conservation and ecologically sustainable development of marine and coastal ecosystems and resources. They also provide an ongoing framework to consider issues related to sustainable industry development in the marine and coastal zone.

The National Aquatic Animal Health Industry Reference Group (NAAH IRG) comprises representatives of  the peak national fishing and aquaculture industry groups , with observers from the FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram and AHC.  NAAH IRG considers issues of aquatic animal health from the perspective of industry for the appropriate advice of AHC and is a key pathway for communication between industry sectors and government.

The Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) comprises heads/CEOs of the Australian and state and territory government agencies responsible for fisheries. The AFMF discuss issues relating to fisheries management and with no formal link, also undertake work requested by the MACC.

Aquaculture Sub-Committee reports to the AFMF on aquaculture issues relevant to the Australian aquaculture industry. The Aquaculture Sub-Committee comprises aquaculture managers from the Australian and state and territory government fisheries agencies and includes observers from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the CSIRO and the National Aquaculture Council.