Acting together to better prevent and mitigate farmed shellfish diseases

On 29 August 2018, in the framework of Aqua 2018 in Montpellier (F), the VIVALDI consortium organised an open workshop entitled “Acting together to better prevent and mitigate farmed bivalve diseases”, with the support of Ifremer, Aqua 2018, CeMEB and Montpellier University. On that occasion, scientists from all over the world, industrials, farmer representatives and national & European competent authorities shared their expertise, experience and views on the current threats to the European shellfish industry. The recent findings by the VIVALDI project were presented and discussed, as well as the expectations from the main stakeholders towards research.

Presentations
Introduction to the workshop, Isabelle Arzul (Ifremer, F)
Session 1: Preventing the entry of diseases
Session 2: Establishing effective breeding and farming programs against mollusc diseases
Session 3: Defining biosecurity measures
Progressive management pathway for improving aquaculture biosecurity, by Melba Reantaso (FAO)
Pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology of Ostreid herpesvirus 1 in China, by Changming Bai (Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences)
Genomic solutions for shellfish selective breeding, Romain Morvezen (SYSAAF, FR) & Lucie Genestout (LABOGENA, FR)
Consequences of oyster mortality episodes on benthic-pelagic coupling of the Thau lagoon (FR), by Marion Richard (UMR MARBEC, FR)
Risk perception across countries and practices: interactive focus groups presentation, by Rob Christley (Uliv, UK) & Coralie Lupo (Ifremer)
Ensuring the safety of shellfish for human consumption, by Corinne Audemard (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA)
Genomic approaches to understanding and improving disease resistance in Pacific oysters, by Ross Houston (The Roslin Institute, UK)
Strategies to minimize risk of disease and to produce resilient quality oysters, by Achim Janke (Global Prospects / TOPS Oysters Consulting Ltd, NZ)
Risk perception across countries and practices: preliminary results, by Rob Christley (Uliv, UK) & Coralie Lupo (Ifremer)
An overview of mollusc animal health controls in the EU, by Niall Gerlitz (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission)
A Production calendar based on water temperature, spat size and husbandry practices reduces herpesvirus impact on cultured Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, in the Ebro Delta, by Noelia Carrasco Querol (IRTA, ES)
Conclusive address by Isabelle Arzul (Ifremer, FR)