This report presents the results of a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, where experts from competent authorities, intergovernmental organizations, the aquaculture industry, academe, and research institutions examined the two previous consultations on the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity (PMP/AB) and clarified issues and concerns raised during these two consultations. A consensus was reached on the definition of the PMP/AB as a pathway that builds on existing frameworks, supported by appropriate tools (via the “PMP/AB toolkit”). The PMP/AB focuses on aquaculture biosecurity, which includes health management and reduction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The PMP/AB will not directly focus on food safety; however, it will promote sustainable aquaculture production with good husbandry practices, environmental practices, and prudent treatment or antimicrobial use.

The PMP/AB refers to a pathway aimed at enhancing aquaculture biosecurity by building on existing frameworks, capacity and appropriate tools using risk-based approaches and public-private sector partnerships. It is expected to result in sustainable (i) reduction in burden of diseases; (ii) improvement of aquatic health and welfare at farm, national and regional levels; (iii) minimization of global spread of diseases; (iv) optimization of socio-economic benefits from aquaculture; (v) attraction of investment opportunities into aquaculture; and (vi) achievement of One Health goals. In the context of the PMP/AB, biosecurity refers to the cost-effective management of risks posed by pathogens to aquaculture through a strategic approach at the enterprise, local-sector, national and international levels with shared public-private responsibilities. This guidance document for PMP/AB application contains the rationale, vision, mission, scope, goals and benefits of the PMP/AB. The four stages of the PMP/AB are described in detail, including the overall objectives and key outcomes to complete each stage. It also presents a general stepwise process and recommended activities for completing the different stages. The PMP/AB checklist is divided into four broad categories, namely: Sectors and Stakeholders; Aquatic Health Services; Surveillance, Monitoring and Diagnostics; and Management and Evaluation.

This report highlights the accomplishments of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) consultations and round-table discussions on the PMP/AB that were held during 2019. These include the following: (i) the Second Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity (PMP/AB2) (29–31 January 2019); (ii) the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity (PMP/AB): First Technical Working Group Meeting (TWG1) (20–22 March 2019); and (iii) the Roundtable Discussions on Aquaculture Biosecurity (22–26 July 2019). It reports on the progress made towards formulating, planning and developing implementation mechanisms for the PMP/AB, based on the comments and recommendations provided by the wide range of stakeholders and experts who participated in these events. In August 2019, the Tenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, held in Trondheim, Norway endorsed the PMP/AB and the development of a multidonor-assisted, long-term aquaculture biosecurity component of an aquaculture programme, including its five pillars. Therefore, the FAO, through its Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, now has a mandate for the further development and implementation of the PMP/AB. Future activities include the establishment of an official Technical Working Group (TWG) that will drive the further development of the technical aspects of the PMP/AB, wider consensus building, initial application (pilot testing) and refinement of the PMP/AB tools, and resource mobilization for the aquaculture biosecurity programme. Guidance documents and resources for advocacy and training on the PMP/AB are currently in development to facilitate adoption at the national level.

This report presents the results of a second multi-stakeholder consultation on the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Aquaculture Biosecurity (PMP/AB), where 41 participants from government, the private sector, academe, and international agencies and donors took stock of the drivers of aquatic animal disease emergence and shared experiences in dealing with aquaculture biosecurity challenges. The four stages of the PMP/AB focus on building aquaculture biosecurity capacity through both bottom-up and top-down approaches with strong stakeholder engagement to promote application of risk management at the producer level as part of a national approach. The PMP/AB initiative is not intended to be prescriptive, and it will be possible to achieve the key outcomes through different combinations of activities. It is essential to address all key outcomes to fully complete a stage and progress to the subsequent stage.

The 2022 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture coincides with the launch of the Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It presents how these and other equally important United Nations events, such as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), are being integrated and supported through Blue Transformation, a priority area of FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022–2031 designed to accelerate achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in food and agriculture. The concept of Blue Transformation emerged from the Thirty-fourth Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries in February 2021, and in particular the Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, which was negotiated and endorsed by all FAO Members. The Declaration calls for support for “an evolving and positive vision for fisheries and aquaculture in the twenty first century, where the sector is fully recognized for its contribution to fighting poverty, hunger and malnutrition.” In this context, Part 1 of this edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture reviews the world status of fisheries and aquaculture, while Parts 2 and 3 are devoted to Blue Transformation and its pillars on intensifying and expanding aquaculture, improving fisheries management and innovating fisheries and aquaculture value chains. Blue Transformation emphasizes the need for forward-looking and bold actions to be launched or accelerated in coming years to achieve the objectives of the Declaration and in support of the 2030 Agenda. Part 4 covers current and high-impact emerging issues – COVID-19, climate change and gender equality – that require thorough consideration for transformative steps and preparedness to secure sustainable, efficient and equitable fisheries and aquaculture, and finally draws some outlook on future trends based on projections. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience – policymakers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed everyone interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Algae, including seaweeds and microalgae, contribute nearly 30 percent of world aquaculture production (measured in wet weight), primarily from seaweeds. Seaweeds and cmicroalgae generate socio-economic benefits to tens of thousands of households, primarily in coastal communities, including numerous women empowered by seaweed cultivation. Various human health contributions, environmental benefits and ecosystem services of seaweeds and microalgae have drawn increasing attention to untapped potential of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Highly imbalanced production and consumption across geographic regions implies a great potential in the development of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Yet joint efforts of governments, the industry, the scientific community, international organizations, civil societies, and other stakeholders or experts are needed to realize the potential. This document examines the status and trends of global algae production with a focus on algae cultivation, recognizes the algae sector’s existing and potential contributions and benefits, highlights a variety of constraints and challenges over the sector’s sustainable development, and discusses lessons learned and way forward to unlock full potential in algae cultivation and FAO’s roles in the process. From a balanced perspective that recognizes not only the potential of algae but also constraints and challenges upon the realization of the potential, information and knowledge provided by this document can facilitate evidence-based policymaking and sector management in algae development at the global, regional and national levels.

In this issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, guest editors Drs. Elizabeth Parker, Charles Fossler, and Carla Huston bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Transboundary Diseases of Cattle and Bison. Top experts discuss the highly contagious diseases that affect cattle and bison and present strategies to mitigate the health risks. - Contains 11 relevant, practice-oriented topics including lumpy skin disease; Rift Valley fever; re-emerging/notifiable diseases to watch; outbreak investigations, compartmentalization/regionalization vaccination; and more. - Provides in-depth clinical reviews on transboundary diseases of cattle and bison, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. - Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.