Committees that deal with 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 Aquatic Animal Health Committee (AAHC) – is the primary industry/government interface for policy, communication and awareness related to aquatic animal health issues. AAHC members represent the Australian, state and Northern Territory government departments with responsibility for aquatic animal health; the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory; the capture and recreational fishing industries; the finfish, mollusc, and crustacean aquaculture industries; and the ornamental fish industry. The committee’s primary function is to provide high-level policy and strategic advice to PISC, through the NBC, on national aquatic animal health issues.
The role of AAHC is to:
- review and refine national aquatic animal health policies and programs
- provide national co-ordination on identified emerging aquatic animal health issues and make recommendations for policy development and management, and facilitate the co-ordination role across the states and territories through existing processes
- actively respond to identified resource requirements of national aquatic animal health policies and programs
- provide advice on international quarantine and import risk assessments as required
- provide advice and submit recommendations to PISC and other stakeholders on those issues
- report on strategic issues and submit recommendations relating to AQUAPLAN and its implementation to PISC and other stakeholders
- provide strategic guidance on the development of aquatic animal disease diagnostics, disease emergency management planning, and disease emergency management training and incident simulation
- review communication and extension strategies on aquatic animal health issues and facilitate implementation of those strategies.
- National Aquatic Animal Health Technical Working Group (NAAH-TWG) – provides scientific and technical advice to AAHC. NAAH-TWG members represent the Australian, state and Northern Territory governments and the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. 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.
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, representatives from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia, 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.
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) and the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) – NBC replaced the Primary Industries Health Committee from 1 July 2008. All primary industries health issues, including environmental and animal (including aquatic) and plant biosecurity issues, will be scrutinised by the NBC prior to submission to PISC and PIMC.
Animal Health Committee (AHC) – provides scientific and technical advice on animal health issues to PISC via NBC. Comprising Australian state and territory and New Zealand Chief Veterinary Officers and representation from CSIRO, Biosecurity Australia and Animal Health Australia, AHC 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. AHC members also meet regularly to discuss issues of national importance.
Sub-committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) – 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.
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) – comprises 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 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.