The Sub-Committee on Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH) is an advisory committee to the Animal Health Committee (AHC). SCAAH provides high-level scientific, technical and strategic advice to AHC, supporting policy and program development regarding national aquatic animal health.
SCAAH’s terms of reference are:
- To support AHC in their policy deliberations by the provision of robust scientific and technical advice on aquatic animal health issues.
- To provide a technical forum for members to work together on aquatic animal health issues.
- To facilitate information exchange and awareness-raising for aquatic animal health issues in Australia.
Membership
SCAAH comprises representation from the Australian, State, Northern Territory and New Zealand governments, the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Animal Health Laboratory and Australian universities. Specialists on aquatic animal health from academia, industry and the private sector may also be invited to participate as required.
Chairing
The Chair of SCAAH is a member of the AHC.
Secretariat
The Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources provides secretariat services to SCAAH.
Meeting arrangements
SCAAH holds at least one face-to-face meeting, and three teleconferences per year.
SCAAH also holds an annual workshop in conjunction with the face-to-face meeting focussing on aquatic animal health issues of strategic significance.
Communication with other committees
SCAAH provides regular reports to AHC on a range of aquatic animal health issues. SCAAH also provides reports to committees such as the National Biosecurity Committee, the Agriculture Senior Officials Committee (formerly the Primary Industries Standing Committee) and the Agriculture Ministers’ Forum (formerly the Standing Council on Primary Industries) as necessary.
SCAAH collaborates with a number of other committees on matters of mutual interest. These committees include the AHC, the Aquaculture Committee and the Marine Pest Sectoral Committee.SCAAH communicates with industry on aquatic animal health matters through the National Aquatic Animal Health Industry Reference Group (NAAHIRG).
SCAAH also provides advice on research and development priorities to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.