What's News

Strengthening Capacity for Aquatic Organism Disease Management through the Operation of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Center

  • Date

    2026.01.29.

  • Hit

    49

  • File

 
 
Strengthening Capacity for Aquatic Organism Disease Management through the Operation of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Center
  - Announcing the 4th Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan (2026-2030)


  The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) has announced the establishment of the 4th Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan (2026–2030) to ensure the stable supply of fishery products and enhance public health by preventing aquatic organism diseases and containing their spread.

  While Korea’s aquaculture industry has shown steady growth over the past decade, the systematic management of aquatic organism diseases has become more critical than ever as risks of new disease outbreaks and pathogen spread have increased due to climate change and diversification of farmed species.

  Accordingly, to prevent and control the spread of aquatic organism diseases, the Ministry enacted the Aquatic Organism Disease Control Act in December 2007; since then, it has established the statutory master plan—the Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan—every five years. Under the 3rd Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan (2021–2025), the Ministry expanded the scope of designated quarantine subjects to include amphibians, increased the list of managed infectious diseases (from 26 to 29), and introduced an electronic quarantine certification system.

  Under the 4th Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan, the Ministry aims to strengthen climate change response capabilities, enhance inspection and quarantine systems, cultivate professional specialists, and elevate Korea's national standing in aquatic organism disease management through strengthened domestic and international cooperation.
 
 ▣ Strengthening international cooperation by elevating Korea's status in the field of aquatic disease diagnosis


  First, MOF plans to raise the national status in aquatic disease diagnosis by fully operationalizing the WOAH Collaborating Center. The National Institute of Fisheries Science and Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency were designated as the world's first WOAH Collaborating Center in the field of “Genetic Diagnostic Standard Materials” in May 2024. Genetic diagnostic reference materials are substances used in the genetic diagnosis of aquatic organism diseases, helping prevent diagnostic errors (false positives and false negatives). Accordingly, in 2026, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will begin full operation of the WOAH Collaborating Center to develop genetic diagnostic reference materials. The Ministry plans to lead the international standardization of aquatic organism disease diagnosis by distributing these materials to WOAH member countries.
 
 ▣ Enhancing climate change response by reestablishing classification standards for aquatic organism infectious diseases, etc.


  Second, to prevent the emergence of new diseases caused by climate change and enhance response capabilities, the Ministry will reestablish classification standards for aquatic animal infectious diseases. Statutory infectious diseases will be reclassified into three categories (Category 1 to Category 3) based on risk level, taking into account factors such as mortality rates and transmissibility with differentiated quarantine measures applied accordingly. Furthermore, by analyzing historical disease outbreak data and environmental factors such as water temperature and climate, MOF will develop an AI-based disease prediction technology to enable more efficient, rapid quarantine measures and more effective disease management. It will also develop vaccines for new and emerging compound diseases related to climate change, as well as additional treatments tailored to new aquaculture species.
 
 ▣ Enhancing quarantine innovation through the advancement of the quarantine management system


  Third, MOF will establish a blockchain-based e-platform to prevent the forgery and alteration of quarantine certificates and enhance public convenience. Introduced in three countries in 2025, the electronic quarantine certificate system will be expanded to eight countries by 2030. The Ministry will implement the digital quarantine system by introducing features such as AI-based authenticity verification for paper certificates. Additionally, instead of uniform quarantine measures, tailored quarantine protocols will be implemented based on regional characteristics and disease outbreak risks. The Ministry will classify regions into high-, medium-, and low-risk zones based on the history of local disease outbreak and aquaculture environments, and apply appropriate quarantine levels to maximize quarantine efficiency.
 
 ▣ Fostering personnel into specialists to respond to aquatic disease outbreaks… Customized practical training as well


  Fourth, MOF plans to develop an educational program using virtual reality to simulate aquatic disease outbreak scenarios, enhancing the rapid response capabilities of aquaculture workers. The Ministry will also establish an educational program in collaboration with institutions specializing in aquatic disease research (such as universities and research institutes) to train integrated quarantine and prevention response personnel. Through this, the Ministry plans to cultivate hands-on professionals and secure highly skilled personnel.
 
 ▣ Establishing a responsible, autonomous quarantine system led by local governments and fisheries


  Furthermore, MOF will implement the Disease Management Rating System to assess and assign grades to aquaculture farms or regions based on their quarantine and hygiene management practices. The system aims to encourage aquaculture businesses to manage their quarantine standards autonomously. Initially, the Ministry will execute a pilot project to establish the foundation for transitioning to a voluntary quarantine system that will then be expanded gradually to foster voluntary participation in quarantine and hygiene management among aquaculture farms and fishermen.

  "Based on this Aquatic Organism Disease Control Plan, we will proactively respond to climate change and spread of aquatic diseases. This will further strengthen the aquatic disease management system, contributing to the protection of public health and the fisheries industry,” said Choi Hyeon-ho, Director General of Marine Policy at MOF.
 
LIST