Experiences gained in other regions have demonstrated the value and positive impact of regional aquatic animal health networks (RAAHNs) such as the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA), which has been in existence for over 40 years (enaca.org).
The surveillance and control of aquatic animal diseases is considered a weak links affecting the sustainable expansion of aquatic animal production and safe intra-regional fish trade in Africa.
Therefore, the Sub-Regional Representation for North Africa of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), in collaboration with the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), organised a workshop to establish and operational a RAAHN in North Africa as a strategy for strengthening the implementation WOAH aquatic standards and improving biosecurity control, market access and safe intra-regional fish trade.
It is anticipated that the implementation of this network will result in:
Through the Launch of the Regional Aquatic Animal Health Network for North Africa (under FishGov II), WOAH aims -amongst others- to create an inaugural platform where the public sectors and private stakeholders can share information and network to collectively develop, implement and monitor aquatic animal health strategies coherently.
The specific objectives of this kick-off workshop for North Africa were to:
From left to right: Rachid Bouguedour, WOAH SRR-NA; Sana Kacem, DGSV Tunisia; Nelly Isyagi, AU-IBAR; Mohammed Bengoumi, FAO-SNE; Faouzia Chakiri, Union du Maghreb Arabe-UMA. Picture © F. Valentini (woah) 2023
The three-day face-to-face workshop was attended by 34 individuals including country representatives (from both public and private sector), experts, WOAH staff, AU-IBAR and observers , i.e. the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Union du Maghreb Arabe (UMA), the Scientific and Technical Office of REMESA (STOR). The latter stands for REseau MEditerranéen de Santé Animale or Mediterranean Animal Health Network) and the World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH).
The opening remarks were made by WOAH, by Tunisia (host country), AU-IBAR, FAO and UMA.
Participants engaged in discussions during the session. Picture © F. Valentini (woah) 2023
During the session, most of the agenda was dedicated to interactive sessions where clusters of countries had the opportunity to share their experiences, strengths and perceived weaknesses and identify potential actions that can improve some or all of the above competencies, in the framework of this project, and from the ground up.
Overall, 7 facilitators or experts were involved in the workshop:
Photo © F. Valentini (woah) 2023
The participants on a field visit to the Centre Technique d’Aquaculture (CTA) Boumhal Ben Arous, Tunis, Tunisia.
