Project details

Supported by: European Commission 6th framework programme

Co-ordinator: Institut Français De La Recherche Pour L’exploitation De La Mer (IFREMER)

Start date: 01/10/2004

End date: 30/09/2006

Further information

Cefas contacts:

Website:

www.dipnet.info

Disease Interactions and Pathogen exchange Network: Task 4 - Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (DIPNET Task 4)

Background

Photo: Electron microscope image of a fish parasite - Gyrodactylus salaris Many cultivated species of fish and shellfish are vulnerable to infection by parasites and disease carried by wild organisms. Similarly, cultivated stocks can act as a reservoir for parasites and disease that may infect wild stocks. We need to increase our knowledge and understanding of the transfer of pathogenic organisms between wild and cultivated stocks as a precursor to safeguarding the aquatic environment, as well as the health and economic value of the farmed and wild stocks.

Objectives

The principal objective of DIPNET is to increase scientific knowledge of the potential transfer of pathogens and diseases between wild and cultivated fish and shellfish populations. The project is organised in four work packages:

Literature review of disease interactions and pathogen exchange
Risk assessments and modelling of aquatic animal health
Review of methods for fish disease epidemiology and surveillance
Network building and knowledge dissemination.

Policy development

DIPNET will strengthen the scientific basis upon which policy decisions are taken to safeguard the aquatic environment from infections originating from aquaculture establishments, and vice versa
It will contribute to the broader policy remit for protecting the aquatic environment
It will help reduce the financial risks in the aquaculture industry

Cefas contribution

DIPNET is a 2-year European project providing science in support of policy. The principal project objectives are:

To integrate and strengthen current scientific knowledge on the potential transfer of pathogens and diseases between wild and cultured aquatic animal populations.
To give support to the development of European policies protecting the health of aquatic animal populations while allowing responsible use of the aquatic environment for aquaculture purposes.
To disseminate the current knowledge towards knowledge users, other stakeholders and the wider European public.

The 5 work packages are a review of disease interaction and pathogen exchange, risk assessment and modelling of pathogen exchange, infectious disease epidemiology in wild populations, network building and dissemination, and scientific co-ordination/project management.

Partners

This project involves 13 partners from 8 different countries.