SEAFDEC/AQD Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center | Aquaculture Department
Food safety is one of the major issues that concern the aquaculture industry. When fish and other cultured organisms are raised in controlled conditions of containment, they are susceptible to risk of microbiological and chemical contamination. A wide range of chemicals and drugs have been used to control diseases, prevent and control parasites, enhance growth, and improve water and soil quality, among others. Aside from environmental issues arising from their use, the presence of chemical residues in the cultured organisms that may render products unsafe for human consumption is an important consideration.
Because of better awareness of the importance of food safety in aquaculture products, consumers now demand that fish should be produced in accordance with responsible farming practices. The role of the fish farmers has become an indispensable part of the food chain as qualified suppliers of wholesome and safe aquaculture products. Unlike in the post harvest sector where food safety regulations and practices are already established, food safety practices and policy compliances at the farm level are still considered in the early stage. A contaminant introduced during the culture period may remain during post harvest processing if not properly controlled. Proper surveillance of contaminants and appropriate farm practices are important to ensure wholesome and safe aquaculture products.
In response to these issues, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department will offer a 5-day training course on food safety of aquaculture products in order to secure wholesome and safe aquaculture commodities in the ASEAN region. This training will have funding support of the Government of Japan.
Contents of the training course
This international training course will provide the participants with the following essential information on lecture topics and practical sessions on evaluation of contaminants, as follows:
1) Principles, current issues, problems and future outlook/ counter measures on food safety in aquaculture
2) HACCP principles and guidelines, good aquaculture practices and post harvest techniques to produce safe aquaculture products.
3) Nutrition and fish health management principles for healthy and wholesome aquaculture.
4) Methodologies in the evaluation of chemical and microbiological contaminants in aquaculture products
Topics:
| Food quality and safety in aquaculture – principles, current issues, problems, future outlook |
| HACCP in aquaculture – principles, practices and guidelines |
| Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) / Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) |
| Good post harvest practices |
| Fish nutrition and food safety |
| Climate change: General and biology / physico-chemical, microbiological |
| Fish health management and food safety |
| Introduction to antibiotics residue analysis |
| Introduction to pesticide residue analysis |
| Introduction to heavy metal analysis |
| Introduction to microbiological analysis (Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli) |
| Introduction to histamine analysis |
| Visit to a seafood processing plant
Expected outputs At the end of the training course, participants will acquire knowledge and technologies necessary to identify appropriate considerations for good aquaculture practices applicable in their situation, as well as, methodologies for proper surveillance. It will also increase their awareness and commitment to promote wholesome and safe aquaculture products. |
Participants and resource persons
SEAFDEC member countries and those from academe and other organizations who are aquaculturists, extension workers, fish farmers, researchers and/or seafood processors will be invited. Resource persons are scientists and researchers from SEAFDEC/AQD and invited experts from other institutions.
Training fee
| For the Philippines, AQD’s host country | (Php) 6,000 |
| For SEAFDEC or ASEAN member-countries | (US$) 500 |
Training fees cover cost of registration, training materials, field trips, accident insurance and lodging except meals.
Training courses may be postponed if minimum number of participants cannot be attained. Courses should have at least 7 local participants.
The training course will be held at SEAFDEC AQD Tigbauan Main Station (TMS), Buyu-an, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines from November 12-16, 2012. Participants will be billeted at SEAFDEC AQD guest rooms or apartments located also at TMS.
For confirmation of attendance, please contact the following:
Dr. Evelyn Grace D. Ayson
Head, Training and Information Division
Concurrent OIC, Training Section
SEAFDEC/AQD
E-mail: edjayson@seafdec.org.ph
Tel : +63 33 5119172/5119170 loc.414
Fax : +63 33 5118709
Website: http://www.seafdec.org.ph
