Aquatic animal health surveillance and disease control system in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The officially permitted export of aquaculture products from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the demanding European Union (EU) market is the most important success of Bosnian and Herzegovinian agriculture in the post-war period. However, this breakthrough demands ongoing activities by all Bosnian competent authorities (CAs) and other stakeholders involved in aquaculture aimed toward sustainable export. The key issue for international recognition of the country’s aquaculture production is the development and maintenance of an adequate aquatic animal health surveillance and disease control system. The current system, which reflects the complex political structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina, involves multilevel CAs. Additionally, shortcomings in communication, a lack of clearly defined responsibilities among CAs and an absence of use of standardized forms for collection, collation and analysis of disease surveillance and fishfarm registration data are inadequacies of the system. Some concrete and relatively unchallenging activities have been recommended to overcome these obstacles. A primary measure is the establishment and coordination of the Expert Panel for Aquaculture (EPA) by the State Veterinary Office (SVO) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should be a leader and coordinator of other recommended activities aimed toward strengthening the national aquatic animal health surveillance and disease control system as a crucial element for improving national aquaculture production.