Page Content
Disease Surveillance and Reporting
Domestic and International Reporting
The Australian Chief Veterinary Officer is Australia’s principal representative on animal health matters nationally and internationally, as well as being Australia's permanent delegate to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Through the Office of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, the Aquatic Animal Health unit:
- coordinates domestic surveillance and reporting of aquatic animal health
- provides an international reference point on aquatic animal health
- manages Australia’s commitments to the OIE and other international agencies that deal with aquatic animal health.
Domestic Reporting of Diseases
The management of enzootic diseases within Australia’s states and territories is the responsibility of each individual state or territory.
Each state and territory has its own legislative requirements for reporting disease outbreaks in fish and other aquatic animals.
In turn, all states and territories conscientiously report the presence or absence of disease incidents in their jurisdictional zone and have agreed to provide regular reports to the Australian Government on the status of the diseases on Australia’s National List of Reportable Diseases of Aquatic Animals 
Word [127kb].
International Reporting of Diseases
As a member country of the OIE, Australia contributes to the international reporting of OIE listed diseases of aquatic animals on a six monthly basis.
Information collected from Australia’s domestic reporting of aquatic animal disease forms the basis of information supplied to the OIE’s international aquatic animal disease reporting program.
Australia’s active participation in the OIE aquatic animal disease reporting program provides historical evidence to substantiate Australia’s claims of freedom from major diseases in support of our export certification and quarantine import policies.
OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission
NACA Database
Aquatic OIE Australia Forum
Australia is a strong contributor to OIE processes to protect our aquatic animal health status and trade in aquatic animals. The OCVO coordinates Australia’s OIE work, including the formulation of Australia’s comments on draft standards developed by the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission.
The Aquatic OIE Australia Forum has been established to facilitate Australian stakeholder consultation on draft standards. Through the Aquatic OIE Australia Forum, registered users can access documents provided for information or comment by the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission.
Register for the Aquatic OIE Australia Forum.
Disease Surveillance Guidelines
Due to the wide variety of aquatic animal species that are cultured, associated pathogens and management systems, as well as surveillance systems need to be designed to suit each specific situation. No single ‘off-the-shelf’ surveillance model is available to address the range of situations experienced in aquaculture.
Instead, guidelines have been developed on the standard of proof required to demonstrate freedom from disease and the elements to be considered in the design and implementation of an appropriate surveillance system.
Disease Surveillance Guidelines 
PDF [303kb]
For further information contact the Aquatic Animal Health Unit.
