As many as 200 veterinary specialists and aquaculture researchers and students from more than 30 countries are gathering in Ho Chi Minh City for the ninth Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA9).

The objective of the event, jointly organised by the Fish Health Section (FSH) of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) and the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), is to share experience in and scientific research on disease prevention.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on November 24, Deputy MARD Minister Vu Van Tam highlighted that the symposium provides opportunities for Vietnamese and international businesses to seek partners and expand research cooperation, seafood trade links, and aquatic veterinary medicine exchanges, with a view to producing high-value added food, promoting sustainable development and minimising pollution.

During the five-day event, participants discussed a number of issues related to aquatic animal health, such as the application of biological security, epidemic prevention, and common parasites and diseases in tilapia, tra fish and shrimp.

The meeting also discusses the early mortality syndrome and acute hepato-pancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp (EMS/AHPND), which is one of the biggest challenges for the development of aquaculture in Asia./.