RESOURCES

HATCHERY BIOSECURITY

RSSBP provides tools to SUPPORT, IMPROVE, and DOCUMENT facility disease risk management

Know the common pathogens of concern

Use the RSSBP Disease Database tool to determine the Pathogens of Concern (POCs) [the disease-causing microorganisms] in your facility source water and broodstock source location(s).
Well known shellfish diseases along U.S. Atlantic Coast: R. Carnegie, VIMS
Want to know more about the POC’s?

Assess your facility disease risk

Consider the PATHWAYS for disease transfer and evaluate facility biosecurity protocols in place.
Identify any gaps in protocols or employee training that would increase biosecurity and reduce risk of disease transfer.

ANIMALS – What protocols are in place for broodstock sourcing, holding, spawning, and disposal to ensure disease doesn’t transfer to other areas of the hatchery or to the source water? Do you keep detailed broodstock and spawn records which enable traceback if a disease issue should occur?

WATER  – What are the water treatment protocols?  Do you keep records of What is the potential for transfer of untreated water to the treated water areas? How are these areas separated? Are protocols in place to avoid splashing and tracking untreated water into other areas?

VECTORS  – What protocols are in place to avoid disease transfer from workers who have duties in the field  and the hatchery?  Do you train workers in biosecurity? Do you have procedures in place for workers entering the hatchery from the field such as hand washing and  changing clothes? 

FOMITES – What protocols are in place for equipment such as buckets, sieves, etc. that is moving through the hatchery?  Are there disinfection protocols for shared equipment?  Do you have clearly labeled equipment specific to different areas of the hatchery? (algae, larvae, spawning, broodstock)

Monitor larval health and obtain routine product health exams

Facilities should develop a relationship with a shellfish pathologist to obtain routine product health exams (which demonstrate the effectiveness of the biosecurity measures) and health exams on animals exhibiting signs of illness or experiencing unexplained mortality. Larval mortality is complex and can be attributed to a number of factors that may or may not involve disease. Sending samples doesn’t count against operators, rather it demonstrates appropriate biosecurity measures are in place. Ruling out POCs/disease is critical to mitigate product loss and disease spread.

Align practices w/ RSSBP BMPs to reduce risk of disease transfer

Review the RSSBP Best Management Practices (BMPs) and ensure you are meeting these practices. Apply to be a BMP-compliant facility .

SEED TRANSFER REGULATIONS

 RSSBP is a voluntary tool in the toolbox of regulators.  Atlantic coast regulators are actively using RSSBP as part of their evaluation of shellfish importation/transfer requests.  State adoption of RSSBP is growing and concerted efforts are underway to communicate the utility of this tool. 

FARM BIOSECURITY

SEED SOURCING
Seed is a potential pathway for disease transfer
 
Make smart, biosecure choices when sourcing seed to prevent introduction of exotic diseases and prevent the spread of existing/endemic disease.
 

BEST PRACTICES

  • Follow seed importation regulations 
  • Consider sourcing seed from an RSSBP-compliant hatchery
  • Use the RSSBP Disease Data Map to educate yourself on transfer risk by comparing disease occurrences between two locations.
  • Know the genetic background of seed – the ploidy (diploid or triploid) and the strain (DBY, NEH, etc)
  • Use the best performing stocks for your area and keep stocks separate until you can gauge its performance.
  • Share your experiences with the hatchery or seed supplier.
FARM MANAGEMENT
Implement practices that promote shellfish health. You can’t control the stress Mother Nature brings, but can limit other stressors which may exacerbate diseases or themselves cause disease and mortality.

BEST PRACTICES

  • Don’t overcrowd – keep densities at a level that promotes optimal growth.
  • Maintain good husbandry by keeping gear clean and be mindful of handling practices when temperatures are high and shellfish are already stressed.
  •  Keep records –  of seed sources, planting dates, densities, maintenance, survival, and any unusual environmental conditions (rainfall, abnormal water conditions or color, etc)
HEALTH MONITORING
Growers provide critical passive disease surveillance by monitoring shellfish health and reaching out for help if poor health or an unusual die-off event occurs.

BEST PRACTICES

  • Know the endemic shellfish diseases in your location by using the RSSBP Disease Database Tool or by reaching out to your local Extension Agent.
  • Routinely monitor shellfish health – survival, growth, meat condition
  • Reach out if you notice poor shellfish health or have a significant die-off of unknown cause on the farm.  While disease isn’t always to blame, it’s important to rule out.  

SHELLFISH DISEASE MANAGEMENT

SELECTIVE BREEDING – fundamental to shellfish health management 
  • Selected oyster lines in wide regional use perform well with regard to MSX, dermo, SSO diseases.
  • Clam lines in use by Virginia aquaculturists are long-adapted to QPX and resist that disease.
EARLY MARKETING – potential strategy for Dermo disease mgmt.
  • Dermo is caused by Perkinsus marinus which is endemic to most of the Atlantic Coast.
  •  Dermo mortality risk increases with time, so marketing before exposure to the pathogen for a second full summer (i.e., at 1.5 yrs of age) is advantageous
GOOD HUSBANDRY – an active role for growers.
  • Minimizing stress that might exacerbate parasitic disease is always important
  • QPX attacks clams that are stressed, for example, by heavy fouling of nets with macroalgae
BIOSECURITY CONTROL OF SEED TRANSFERS
  • Promote transfers from “safe” areas, and of smaller seed which is more likely to be free of pathogens
SURVEILLANCE

ACTIVE Disease Surveillance  – extensive, systematic monitoring of disease and mortality in natural populations providing critical information to understand changes in disease over time, inform resource management, and look for the  emergence of new pathogens. Atlantic Coast Examples:

PASSIVE Disease Surveillance – the shellfish samples submitted by growers and hatcheries for evaluation.  Whether in response to a die-off event, or for routine seed transfers, this provides critical perspective on disease in aquaculture populations and whether or not new pathogens may be emerging.

TRAINING

Coming soon!  Free, online modules providing details on the RSSBP’s hatchery compliance program, endemic diseases on the Atlantic Coast of the US, and shellfish hatchery biosecurity protocols.  

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

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