Networking for healthy aquaculture
The 'Permanent network to strengthen expertise on infectious diseases of aquaculture species and scientific advice to EU policy' (PANDA) established a network of experts in aquatic animal health, enhancing knowledge sharing and the exchange of skills and scientific opinion on the subject. One of the EU-funded project's major aims was to be able to build a solid scientific information base and offer advice regarding relevant EU legislation and policy. In particular, PANDA envisioned a permanent network that would serve to enhance scientific knowledge and technical competencies, especially with regard to the most important exotic disease hazards, and methods for confronting them in the event of an incursion. Efforts proved useful for providing the European Commission with advice that could assist strategic decisions and support the formulation and implementation of policy relevant to aquaculture and fish health. A project website was set up to facilitate communication and the dissemination of information as well as serve as a database for members' details. Project activities also sought to establish a database of training opportunities and outline requirements not yet met by existing training schemes. The training focus included methods for testing, epidemiology and risk analysis, and measures for environmentally friendly disease control. Although the established network had the capacity to process the majority of problems likely to arise in the future, the PANDA team determined that continual efforts would be needed for its maintenance and enrichment beyond the scope of the project. As such, recommendations were made for actions in this direction to be recognised as a European priority.
