Aquaculture Health
Aquaculture, the production of aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions, is an ever-growing agribusiness in the United States and worldwide. The impact of disease on aquatic livestock, like all livestock sectors, includes production and market loss and increased costs. APHIS supports U.S. aquaculture industries by protecting aquatic livestock health, promoting U.S. farm-raised aquaculture products, and protecting natural resources.
APHIS works with U.S. aquaculture producers, allied businesses, associations, and partners to improve, establish, and maintain healthy aquatic livestock and promote sustainable production practices. We support risk-based approaches to demonstrate and protect aquatic livestock health and ensure farm-raised aquatic animals' safe and secure movement.
Report Signs of Animal Disease
Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their veterinarian to evaluate the animal(s). Find an accredited veterinarian.
Animal health professionals (veterinarians; diagnostic laboratories; public health, zoo, or wildlife personnel; and others) report diagnosed or suspected cases of nationally listed reportable animal diseases to APHIS Area Veterinarians in Charge.
Information on Reportable Diseases and Pathogens of Concern
Diseases and pathogens of concern to U.S. aquaculture are in the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases. This also includes a number of World Organisation for Animal Health -listed aquatic animal diseases.
If you suspect diseases or pathogens on these lists, report it.
APHIS works continually to identify potential risks and respond to requests for epidemiological information about diseases that could threaten commercial aquaculture industry sectors in the United States.
- Red Sea Bream Iridovirus Disease (RSIVD) Rapid Risk Assessment (389.48 KB)
- Potential Pathways of Exposure to ST251 Strains of Virulent Aeromonas Hydrophila in Farmed Catfish (1.1 MB)
- Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV)
- Assessment of the Risk of Introduction of TiLV by Live Tilapia Imported to Terminal Markets (269.51 KB)
- Rapid Risk Assessment for Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) (569.5 KB)
- Analysis of U.S. Imports/Exports of Live Tilapia and Eggs/Milt (318.38 KB)
- Emerging Risk to Animal Health Notice: TiLV (164.9 KB)
- Preliminary Risk Assessment for TiLV (221.12 KB)
- Decapod Iridescent Virus (DIV1) Rapid Risk Assessment (1022.23 KB)
- Infection With Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV)
- IHHNV: Rapid Risk Assessment (1.2 MB)
- Emerging Risk Notice: IHHNV (106.18 KB)
- Information Sheet: IHHNV (358.03 KB)
- Ostreid Herpevirus (OsHV)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Infection by OsHV-1 Microvariants
- Information Sheet: OsHV-1 (289.75 KB)
- Potential Introduction Pathways of OsHV-1 in the United States (746.37 KB)
- Optimizing surveillance for early disease detection: Expert guidance for Ostreid herpesvirus surveillance design and system sensitivity calculation (Gustafson et al. 2021)
Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards
The Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS) provide a framework for improving and verifying the health of farmed aquatic animals produced in the United States.
The goals of the standards are to:
- Improve the health of U.S. farm-raised aquatic animals
- Facilitate safe interstate and international trade or movement of live aquatic animals
- Improve the marketability of animals produced by CAHPS participants
To be effective, our program standards need cooperation from States, other Federal agencies, and private industry. With industry support, APHIS initiated the rulemaking process to codify CAHPS. Stay tuned for open commenting opportunities in the Federal Register.
Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS) - USAS Webinar