Scientific Activities

EFSA Working Groups

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)  is an agency of the European Union set up in 2002 to serve as an impartial source of scientific advice to risk managers and to communicate on risks associated with the food chain. EFSA cooperates with interested parties to promote the coherence of EU scientific advice and provide the scientific basis for laws and regulations to protect European consumers from food-related risks – from farm to fork.

The EURL for Fish and Crustacean Diseases provides technical advice to the following EFSA working groups on aquatic animal health:

• Species which may act as vectors or reservoirs of diseases covered by the Animal Health Law: Listed pathogens of fish

• Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429):
  • Bacterial kidney disease (BKD)
  • Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN)
  • Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC)
  • Infection with salmonid alphavirus (SAV)
  • Infection with Gyrodactylus salaris (GS)

AQUAEXCEL 3.0

AQUAEXCEL3.0 aims to further boost the EU aquaculture sector by expanding the Transnational Access programme to support more external research teams collaborating with its high-quality facilities, providing free training courses on the latest topics and ensuring research is aligned with industry needs.

AQUASERV

AQUASERV is a pioneering multinational initiative that unites six leading research infrastructures and over 40 scientific institutions across Europe. The mission of the project is to establish a robust, multidisciplinary network dedicated to advancing sustainable aquaculture, fisheries, ecological restoration and the blue economy through cutting-edge research services. The project fosters collaboration among prestigious public and private institutions, ensuring transparent access to top-tier resources and data. By enabling the international exchange of expertise and providing accessible research services across Europe, AQUASERV is driving scientific progress and innovation in these critical fields.

International Collaborations

In order to improve diagnostic procedures of fish and crustacean diseases, the EURL for Fish and Crustacean Diseases has continuous and fruitful collaboration with:

• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) – Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Australia
  (WOAH Reference Laboratory for Ranavirus, YHV1, EHNV and AbHV1)

• Pathology Research Division in Aquaculture Research Department, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), South Korea
  (WOAH Reference Laboratory for VHS)

• Pacific Biological Station – Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (PBS-AAHL), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Canada
  (WOAH Reference Laboratory for VHS)