Report Of The Fao Western Balkan Regional Seminar Workshop On Aquatic Animal Health

The Western Balkan Regional Seminar/Workshop on Aquatic Animal Health (TCP/BiH/3101) held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 19 to 22 May 2008 was participated by a total of forty representing fisheries and veterinary authorities and the private sector from Western Balkan countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) including representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health. The regional seminar/workshop successfully disseminated the outcomes of TCP/BiH/3101 (Strengthening Aquaculture Health Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina); exchanged information on the status of aquaculture and aquatic animal health, diseases affecting aquaculture, and programmes for disease diagnosis and prevention in Western Balkan countries; and identified opportunities for seeking solutions to common problems related to pathogen issues affecting regional trade between Balkan states and other key European Union trading partners; and discussed and formulated a possible programme for regional cooperation. A major outcome of this regional seminar/workshop was the development of a Technical Cooperation Programme Facility (TCPF) concept note "Assistance to Westen Balkan countries for improving compliance with international standards for aquatic animal health" strongly supported by the above participating countries including that of Albania. This request for a TCPF funding will support the following activities: regional capacity and performance survey, regional field assessment, regional meeting and development of a further regional TCP proposal that will address several key areas recognized to be of high importance in the region. These include risk analysis, disease surveillance, monitoring and reporting, disease diagnostics including a regional reference laboratory, information and networking and targeted capacity building.