The Importance of the Biosecurity Concept for a Resilient Eucheumatoid Aquaculture Industry

Biosecurity is a concept supported by sustainable health management-based policies that is widely applied to the aquaculture sector for controlling and managing disease, pests, and other relevant risks in the industry. For many years, biosecurity has been applied to aquatic aquaculture management to counter the economic and ecological impact and consequences, and recently, the concept has been adapted to seaweed aquaculture sectors. In this chapter, we propose the concept of a biosecurity strategy for eucheumatoid aquaculture on-farm and at the national level. We also highlight the current use of biosecurity strategies in seaweed regulatory frameworks in the main producing countries. The implementation of current biosecurity strategies on-farm was also evaluated through farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). National biosecurity strategy showed similar challenges identified from the regulatory frameworks in the main seaweed producing countries, such as unavailability of specific seaweed aquaculture policy/regulations, unclear national seaweed health management systems, lack of biosecurity applications used in the national seaweed frameworks, and poor support systems to accommodate seaweed aquaculture health management. The results of on-farm biosecurity implementation identified insufficient biosecurity knowledge and resources of seaweed farmers among the producing countries. Various strategies are recommended to overcome biosecurity challenges based on national capability.