Aquaculture Biosecurity
The tools found on this website were developed to help land-based aquaculture farms and hatcheries identify and reduce pathogen transmission risks to improve farm biosecurity and the health of farmed aquatic animals. A fully-customizable biosecurity plan template is available to help you get started.
Additional Resources
Why Biosecurity is Important for Aquaculture Farms and Hatcheries
- Infectious diseases are a constant management challenge and economic threat for land-based aquaculture farms and hatcheries.
- Biosecurity – actions taken to prevent the introduction and spread of disease and respond to disease outbreaks – is a critical part of any aquatic animal health management plan.
- Each farm is unique, and so are its risks for infectious diseases.
An Introduction to Aquaculture Biosecurity
Learn about the impact of infectious diseases and how biosecurity measures can prevent, reduce, or help manage disease risks for land-based aquaculture operations.
Get Started with Aquaculture Biosecurity
Step 1: Identify Pathogen Transmission Pathways
Identifying potential pathogen entry points and transmission pathways unique to your aquaculture operation is the first step when developing a biosecurity plan.
Identify Pathogen Transmission Pathways
Step 2: Aquaculture Biosecurity Self-Assessment Checklist
This checklist walks you through the six pathogen transmission pathways to help you identify areas of concern and preventative actions you can take for your farm or hatchery.
Aquaculture Biosecurity Self-Assessment Checklist
Step 3: Biosecurity Plan Template for Land-Based Aquaculture Farms
A biosecurity plan helps you document and communicate actions you are taking to prevent disease on your farm. This fully customizable biosecurity plan template helps you quickly get started on a site-specific, written biosecurity plan. It can be printed and completed by hand or edited electronically.
Biosecurity Plan Template for Land-Based Aquaculture Farms [PDF]
Biosecurity Plan Template for Land-Based Aquaculture Farms [Word doc]
More Aquaculture Biosecurity Resources
Pathogen Transmission Pathways Tip Sheets and Videos
These short handouts and videos overview how infectious pathogens can enter or spread on land-based aquaculture farms and hatcheries and biosecurity practices that can disrupt their transmission pathways. There are six potential pathogen transmission pathways.
Aquaculture Biosecurity Infographics
Aquaculture Biosecurity Forms
Aquaculture Biosecurity Signs
Aquaculture Biosecurity Resources from Additional Sources
National Aquaculture Association
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center
- Biosecurity in Aquaculture, Part 1: An Overview
- Biosecurity in Aquaculture, Part 2: Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
- Biosecurity in Aquaculture, Part 3: Ponds
Shellfish Biosecurity
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Acknowledgments
Development of this material was made possible through a grant provided to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).
Aquaculture Biosecurity Resources in Spanish
Coming soon!