Interview

with Huang Jie

Huang Jie is the Director General of the Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA). He was the Principal Investigator of the Maricultural Disease Control and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI), Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), the Chief Scientist of CAFS on aquatic animal disease control, an OIE designated expert for White spot disease (WSD) and Infectious and hematopoietic necrosis (IHHN), and a doctorial tutor for Shanghai Ocean University.

AQUAFEED: Would you explain the structure and mission of NACA?

HJ: The Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific is an intergovernmental organization established in 1990 after the 14-year implementation of FAO/UNDP projects. Current members are Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, I.R. Iran, Korea (DPR), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The core of NACA is a collaborative network of research centers distributed throughout the region. The network is operated by the Secretariat settled in Bangkok and underpinned by Regional Lead Centers and Participating Centers to share their expertise and facilities for mutual benefit.

The mission of NACA is to assist members in promoting rural development through sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resources management, which is addressed through five thematic work programs on sustainable farming systems, aquatic animal health and biosecurity, genetics and biodiversity, food safety, quality and certification, emerging global issues, etc. and additional cross-cutting programs including education and training, gender, and information and communications.

AQUAFEED: What are the main obstacles and solutions to sustainable aquaculture development within the NACA region?

HJ: Aquaculture development in Asia-Pacific depends on resources, intensive labor, technologies, and trade and faces the risks of biosecurity, environment, safety, and climate change. The dependence and risks interactively impact the development sustainability. The sector in the region is featured with significant diversities of species, industries, capability, knowledge and culture. Our work’s principal goal is to mobilize the member’s resources, strengthen the region’s connection in aquaculture, and enhance communication and cooperation. To achieve this goal, we plan to develop specific subject-focused networks (sub-networks) to let member institutions in the name of NACA guide the construction of such sub-networks. Member government agencies, industries, and other stakeholders can be involved in the sub-networks. The sub-networks will set up the

communication mechanism and promote subjectfocused activities. With the sub-networks, participants can find opportunities for communication, cooperation, training and reaching a consensus on the subject. We believe these efforts will provide regional approaches to reciprocate the dependence, complement the diversities, and minimize the risks and support sustainable aquaculture development. We hope that this idea will be supported and implemented by member governments through the Governing Council.

AQUAFEED: Fed aquaculture production has outpaced that of the non-fed subsector in world aquaculture in recent years. Could you give us a regional overview of fed species?

HJ: This region is the most diverse aquaculture region in farmed species. A comprehensive enumeration of all species may not be easy. In terms of fish, there are hundreds of fish species such as tilapia, carps, croakers, flatfishes, striped bass, catfishes, groupers, ilsh, Asian seabasses, eels, snakehead, sturgeons, trout, etc. In terms of crustaceans, there are mainly Penaeus vannamei, P. monodon, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Procambarus clarkii, Chinese mitten crab, swimming crab, and so on. In amphibians, there are mainly bullfrogs and some other farmed frogs. For reptiles, there are soft turtles and turtles. In terms of mollusk, a fed species is abalone. Even sea cucumber of echinoderm can also be a fed species. In general, farmed fish and crustaceans, including tilapia, carps, and P. vannamei, are among the largest dominant fed species in this region.

In addition to species, there are differences in life stages and farming methods. Many species during hatching or larval stages and the farming of the above species under high density are feed dependent farming. However, many varieties are not necessarily feed dependent in low-density conditions.

AQUAFEED: Many investments are being made in new feed facilities in the NACA region, but what is the actual status of feed availability, and what are the main challenges for feed development in the region?

HJ: As the largest aquaculture region, we are also the largest market for aquaculture feed. The region has a large number of feed enterprises on various scales. Feed usually constitutes the largest part of the production cost of feed-dependent aquaculture. It is also a major factor affecting the growth and health of aquaculture species, as well as the aquaculture environment. Therefore, the quality and cost of feed are the primary concern of aquaculturists.

The region has very diverse feed variety and application. We have the most primitive raw feed and self-formulation as feed application, as well as modern full formula feed, including the full formula of broodstock and seed feed, etc. Sources of feed ingredients, formula and processing technologies, additives, pollutants, packaging and storage technology, quality management system (QMS) and other relevant technologies affect the feed products’ quality and safety. The marketing system and supply chain of feed enterprises also guide farmers’ feeding skills and the quality of farming products.

Therefore, the market demand for aquatic feed is driven by the huge scale of aquaculture. The quality and technical upgrading of feed products attract wide concern. The feed industry development needs to face challenges in many aspects, such as the rising cost of high-quality fishmeal and fish oil brought by a decline in the wild fish resources, as well as the fluctuation in the quality, supply chain, and price of soybean meal and other major feed ingredients. The feed producers have to face the challenges of achieving the balance of quality and cost of feed products and maintaining the stability of feed quality, safety, and services. Technical innovations and strict QMS will help feed producers achieve their core values to gain advantages in the fierce industrial competition.

AQUAFEED: New viral diseases have devastated shrimp production in recent years. What is currently the incidence of viral shrimp diseases, and why is it still having a strong impact on the industry?

HJ: In recent years, shrimp aquaculture has faced a variety of disease problems. In addition to the continued impact of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) on the shrimp farming industry, bacterial acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease, digestive pathogenic dysbacteriosis, and fungal microsporidia Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) have also severely hit the industry in different countries. The newly discovered decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1) has begun to pose a threat to the culture of many shrimps

such as white leg shrimp P. vannamei and giant freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii. So, it's not just the virus that's causing major losses.

NACA established the Quarter Aquatic Animal Diseases Report (QAAD) in this region, and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) requires its member countries to report aquatic animal diseases through WAHIS (World Animal Health Information System). However, these reports usually do not request information on the quantitative levels of the impact or occurrence. Some countries may not have comparative surveillance programs or publish their surveillance results. Comprehensive statistics on the incidence of diseases in the whole region may not be available.

China has launched a nationwide target surveillance program for important shrimp diseases and annually reported the results in Aquatic Animal Health in China released by the Bureau of Fisheries of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and National Fisheries Technology Extension Center. According to the annual report, the positive rates in detected samples in 2018 was 11.7% (WSSV), 10.4% (IHHNV), 12.2% (DIV1), and 22.4% (EHP). Such results would be a reference for the region.

There is biosecurity imperfection of shrimp seedlings and farming in this region. First of all, live feed or raw feed is often needed in the breeding of shrimp seedlings, such as silkworms and brine shrimp. Most of these live or raw feed is from farms or areas lacking biosecurity. Secondly, many hatcheries cultivate the broodstock with commercialized subadult shrimp that might be exposed to pathogens in farms lacking biosecurity measures. Third, many native species use the natural broodstock from wild resources or domesticated for a few generations, lacking strict inspection of diseases. Fourth, many farms are densely stocked and lack effective disinfection measures for ponds, water, and wastewater. Fifth, farms carry out polyculture with various crustacean related species, resulting in the spread of the virus among different species and strengthened pathogenicity. These defects make it very easy for known or unknown viruses to enter the farming system. It is worth noting that hundreds of new viruses have been found in crustaceans in recent years. If the above problems are not paid attention to, emerging viral diseases may continue to appear in the future.

AQUAFEED: What are the main strategies and solutions to combat viral pathogens of farmed shrimp?

HJ: The principal strategies to combat the viral pathogens of farmed shrimp are the application of the biosecurity concept. Recently, we have joined in the FAO’s initiation of PMP/AB (Progressive Management Pathway for improving Aquaculture Biosecurity) and also cooperate with the OIE in the adoption of the new chapter on biosecurity in aquaculture establishment in the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code to promote the application of the biosecurity concept in the region. PMP/AB will adopt a four-step approach of the strengthened cost-effective management of risks posed by infectious agents in the aquaculture sector with shared public-private responsibilities.

For the public sector, a comprehensive set of governance, services, and supports on legislations and regulations on aquaculture with strengthened biosecurity concept, biosecurity related standards, zoning and compartmentation, health certification, national surveillance, reporting, and early warning system, etc. are highly recommended.

For the private sector, cost-effective management approaches of the FAO PMP/AB are essential for building a biosecurity system. Accordingly, we cooperate with YSFRI to promote the five-level aquaculture biosecurity grades (ABG) for all types of enterprises. ABG1, namely diagnosis-based treatment, the lowest biosecurity grade, can be applied to extensive small-scale farms. ABG2, surveillance-based prevention, can be applied to most intensive or indoor farms. ABG3, risk analysisbased control, is the integral control under risk analysis guidance with an inadequate traceability system. ABG4, systemic disease freedom, can be applied to breeding centers and broodstock producers. ABG5, official certification, can be applied to disease-free licensed hatcheries or farms.

The public and private sectors shall share their responsibility for biosecurity strategies. Smallscale farms would significantly benefit from the sharing responsibility with the national/provincial/ local diagnostic and rapid responding services. The international or regional organizations can provide international or regional recommendations and

guidelines, international or regional training, webinar, and consultation on biosecurity and emerging issues.

AQUAFEED: The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on the HORECA sector and aquaculture production. What is the impact within the NACA region, and how the industry has responded?

HJ: The value chain of aquaculture has been tremendously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. As the major aquaculture region globally, the aquaculture in Asia-Pacific deeply relies on the international, regional, and domestic markets, of which a large part is from the demand of the HORECA sector brought by travel and tourism.

During the pandemic period, aquaculture products face severe backlogs, and the prices have fallen sharply. Supply chains for aquaculture related commodities, such as seeds, feed, and additives, were also affected. The commodities face difficulty to be accessed by the industry. Aquaculture related services, such as diagnosis, consultation, customer services, etc., have also become hard to access. Labors are hard to find due to movement limitations. Job opportunities have also declined dramatically. Some aquatic products have been banned because of changes in wildlife regulations and the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA positives.

We analyzed data provided by Fishfirst in China and revealed that shrimp prices in 2020 had decreased by about 25.7% averagely compared to that in the same period of 2019, especially the decreases up to 30-45% in important festivals. Aquatic diseases are also on the rise due to the recovery of farming production following the containment of the COVID-19 outbreak, with an early absence of diagnostic services or inadequate biosecurity measures. If the outbreak crisis threatens food security and causes food exporters to restrict soybean exports, the aquatic feed production will fall short, leading to higher prices. This situation will further lead to higher prices of aquatic products, contraction of markets, and narrowed profit margins. The economies and employment that are primarily dependent on international trade in aquatic products will be significantly affected.

The industry also actively responds to the impact of COVID-19. For example, many marketing, trades and services related to aquaculture have been moved online. Online communication and training for

Aquaculture biosecurity grades based on the implementation of biosecurity plan on farm level.

aquaculture technologies have been wildly boosted. Cooperating with our members’ resources, NACA has organized or participated in several webinars and training programs for the region and the world. The webinars and training program participants were much more than our earlier physical events, and the countries of the participants are also much wider.

Recently, 15 countries in the region have signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. The agreement will ensure that more than 90% of goods to be open to trade. RCEP includes terms of economic and technical cooperation, provides transitional arrangements for the least developed countries and provides favorable conditions for their integration into regional economic integration. I believe that this agreement will bring opportunities to reduce the negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and promote cooperation in aquaculture.

NACA hopes to initiate the concept of aquaesthetics, which means the esthetics in aquaculture and aquatic products. This concept includes the establishment of experiences of eco-friendly aquaculture communities, ornamental aquatic organism industry and marketing, aquatic delicacies, aquatic health cares, etc. The concept will bring new types of aquaculture industries and extend the value chain, attract investments, and attract the general public to enjoy aquaculture. I think the concept will greatly enhance the industry's resilience against COVID-19’s impacts.

AQUAFEED: Asia Pacific countries are among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Which are the main impacts and efforts to mitigate its effects in the region?

HJ: The extreme climates may cause primary disasters, such as typhoons, rainstorms, hyperthermia, drought,

etc., or secondary disasters, such as surges, dam collapse, human plagues, social-economic crises, etc. As the infrastructures are inadequate, and farms are usually densely arranged, the primary and secondary disasters may directly or indirectly cause huge damage to aquaculture production.

The non-extreme climates, such as the inappropriate temperature, excessive or lack of rainfall, climate fluctuation, etc., may not cause direct damage but deviance and fluctuation in the aquaculture environment. Subsequently, the deviance and fluctuation may cause the decline of growth, disease resistance, the survival of aquaculture species, propagation of pathogens, etc.

The efforts to mitigate the impacts should also use the approaches with sharing public-private responsibilities at the farm, local, national, and regional levels. The farm owners shall enhance their infrastructures to strengthen the capability and preparedness facing extreme climates. They shall also establish their biosecurity system and improve the capability of environmental resilience to face the indirect impacts. The aquaculture village/community may enhance their climate services and coordination of areal infrastructures and management shared by farms. Commercial services and product suppliers may develop their services and products to help climate responses, such as forecasting platform, insulation films, escape proofs, etc. The government may establish relevant legislation and regulations on emergency climate responses, establish the climate early warning system, mobilize resources, set up the mechanism for insurance and financial aids for farmers, and support research on climate responding approaches, etc. Regional organizations may establish a network on climate change issues, coordinate the cooperation among countries with sharing water bodies, organize the training for capacity building, etc. These coordinations are included in our strategic plan, and we welcome our members and other organizations in the world to contact us to request their needs and share their resources for the reciprocal development in aquaculture.