A WOAH-supported international programme

A hybrid training course on aquaculture will be launched soon by the World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health (WVEPAH) and the University of Montreal (Canada). Supported by WOAH, the course aims at developing competencies of veterinarians and aquatic animal health professionals in aquaculture health and biosecurity, under the One Health approach. The residential component of this programme will be held at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (Padua, Italy).

This intensive programme is driven by aquaculture’s critical role in meeting the world’s growing demand for sustainable seafood production, ensuring high-quality standards and protecting human, animal and environmental health . This programme is designed to strengthen capacities in auditing production systems, biosecurity, disease prevention and surveillance, farm health management and product safety and quality. 

The final diploma, issued by the University of Montreal and validated by WOAH, recognises participants’ acquired competencies, offering an opportunity to demonstrate them at the international level.

WOAH Director General, Dr Monique Eloit, said,

‘A competency-based training is necessary to support Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services to develop an adequate workforce, able to assure the health and well-being of animals and the people who depend on them, and to develop sustainable productions caring of the environmental protection’.

Aquaculture experts, in particular, are employed in Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services,  and they are also present in the pharmaceutical and food industries, at farms or work as practitioners. Harmonising their competencies through continuing education and international communities of practices is therefore a step forward toward safe production and trade, healthy food consumption, mutual recognition and trust.

WVEPAH is a non-profit organisation created with the support of WOAH. Its objective is to offer continuing education courses to professionals involved in the health of production animals: poultry, swine and aquaculture. The concept behind WVEPAH’s programmes is to offer intensive, advanced modules designed both for veterinarians and non-veterinarians working in these production animal sectors, who wish to strengthen their competencies. WVEPAH blends online courses and residential sessions which are taught by internationally recognised specialists in their field, as well as by WOAH lecturers.

More information at www.wvepah.org