FAO and Singapore collaborate to address silent pandemic from aquaculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Singapore’s national agencies (National Parks Board and Singapore Food Agency), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),  formally announced the publication of regional guideline on monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens from aquaculture. The publication was a result of extensive consultation among national, regional and global AMR stakeholders and experts in aquaculture. It is hoped that the guidelines in the publication will help countries produce harmonized information for evidence-based actions to address the emergence and spread of AMR in aquaculture.

AMR is a global health threat that is being exacerbated by overuse and misuse of antimicrobials such as antibiotics. Mitigation of the emergence and spread of AMR is important, and monitoring and surveillance are keys to generating information to support designing, monitoring and evaluating evidence-based interventions.

FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Regional Manager for Asia and the Pacific Dr Kachen Wongsathapornchai said that “despite how long [the publication] took [to publish], it was a journey no one could have done quicker, given the intensity of consultations and reviews required to ensure that it adheres to international standards, reflects the ground reality while remaining practical.”

Dr Tan Lee Kim, Director-General (Food Administration) and Deputy CEO of Singapore Food Agency (SFA), said that “the collaboration with FAO and NParks to publish the guidelines underscores our commitment to address potential AMR threats to aquaculture. Such efforts will help to support sustainable aquaculture practices and ensure the safety of seafood products entering our market.”

Meanwhile, Dr Chang Siow Foong, Director-General (Animal and Veterinary Service) National Parks Board, said that “the Animal and Veterinary Service of the National Parks Board of Singapore is heartened by everyone’s commitment and contribution in working on this key publication. As the first of its kind, this set of guidelines will support surveillance in AMR within the aquaculture sector, which is of high importance for the Asia-Pacific region.”

The impact of antimicrobial use in aquaculture on the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens of fish is understudied and may be overlooked. AMR development may compromise food security, food safety and animal welfare, and in turn, the protection of livelihoods and the sustainability of aquatic species and fisheries. The hope is that this guideline will help to improve the quality, quantity and overall cohesiveness of initiatives on AMR surveillance in aquaculture across the region, and ultimately, the overall resilience of aquaculture-dependent livelihoods and economies.