Commercially produced vaccines for imported fish in a year: ICAR official

In about a year’s time, commercially produced vaccines will be available for imported fish varieties being grown in aquaculture farms in the country, J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research said on Tuesday.  

Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of the four-day-long 12^th International Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture organised by ICAR-CIBA, Chennai, Mr. Jena said the ICAR had developed some 6-8 vaccines in the last five years.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have guidelines for these as yet. This is because, India as a country, did not go for intensive production of animals. But now that the industry is opening up, we have submitted draft guidelines to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Once the guidelines are available, companies that have obtained the know-how from us, have some processes to complete after which they can go for commercial production,” he said. Mr. Jena also said that oral vaccines were under development for smaller species.  

Earlier in the evening, the event was inaugurated over video by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian. Addressing the gathering virtually, he said that after the IT sector, the growth is in the fisheries sector. The Minister said that there was a need to ensure availability of sea food in the domestic market too. He urged the delegates to remember that there must be zero defects in any product they create, or service provided.

Director, ICAR – CIBA and convenor of the event, Kuldeep K Lal, said that considering the importance of disease prevention, the Centre had been implementing the National surveillance programme for aquatic animal diseases since 2013 with a major emphasis on strengthening farmer-based surveillance so that diseases are reported at once, investigated and scientific support is provided.

The event was being organised for the second time in India with 450 delegates including 100 international participants from 21 countries. The 5^th edition of shrimp farmers conclave will be held on September 27.