Regional Consultative Workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance Risk Associated with Aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific

Aquaculture sector in Asia-Pacific has grown rapidly during the past four decades and contributed significantly to food security, nutrition, livelihood and overall socioeconomic development in the region. Meanwhile, disease problem has become increasingly challenging in aquaculture. Un-prudent and poorly controlled use of anti-microbial in animal disease control in aquaculture can have significant contribution to AMR risk. Although the control over the use of antimicrobial in aquaculture through some regulatory frameworks has been strengthened over the past decade in the region, it is far from adequate and effective in many Asian countries. In order to support the members to effectively address AMR in aquaculture for public health and sustainability of the sector, FAO and Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) jointly organized the regional consultation on AMR associated with aquaculture in Asia-Pacific on 4-6 September 2018. This publication documents the conduct of the regional consultation and its outputs, which identified major issues and gaps in tackling AMR issue in aquaculture and recommended desirable interventions and long-term strategy to effective mitigate AMR risk related to aquaculture in the region. The document also includes the seven country case studies on status of use of antimicrobial in aquaculture and the efforts to manage the risks of antimicrobial resistance, which were presented at the regional consultation