B. Mokhayer - Vet.Fac. of Tehran University and Academy of sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran

Present status Research activities of aquatic orgnanisms health management: The caspian sea is the main habitat of some important and valuable species of fishes like Sturgeons which produce about 90% of the world's caviar, and also Caspian salmon, Frisian roach, etc. Propagation of fish and producing of numerous fingerlings especially from the species metioned above, for releasing to the Caspian sea and inland waters is a current national plan undertaken by the propagation section of the Iranian fisheries organization, Jihad-e-Agriculture ministry, in breeding centers like shahid Beheshti sturgeon hatchery center, shahid Bahonar salmon hatchery center, shahid Ansari cyprinid hatchery center. The research on the health and diseases in aquatic organisms which is one of the responsibilities of the Iranian Fisheries Research organization, begins in this period and before fingerling releasing, in the aquatics health and diseases departments of the following centers: - International Sturgeon Research Institute (Rasht) - Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (Sari) - Coldwater Fishes Research Center (Tonekabon) - Inland water aquaculture research center (Bandar Anzali) The aquaculture in the Persian gulf and Oman sea and their basins has less experience than in the Caspian sea. Artificial breeding and rearing of Barb-Benny, Grouper and Yellow fin seabream, and also Green tiger shrimp, Black lipped pearl oyster, were conducted of the following centers respectively: - Mariculture research center (Ahwas) - Persian Gulf and Oman sea Ecology Research center (Bandar Abbas), Bandar Lengeh research station The research department of aquatics health and diseases exists in two first centers mentioned above and also in the Brackish water research station (Bafgh-Yazd). Inland water Aquatic stocks Research center (Golestan), Offshore Fisheries Research center (Chabahar), Westocentral Asian Artemia Reference center (Urmia) and national fish Processing Research Center of the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, lack research department of aquatic organisms health and diseases. Diagnosis and control aquatics disease: The different sections of the office of the aquatic animals health and control of diseases, Iranian veterinary organization, are responsible for diagnosis, treatment and control of the aquatic diseases in the country. This organization is also responsible for national health certification, quarantine and transport of live animal as well as the aquatics. Iranian Veterinary organization operates GIS on the terrestrial animals and is planning to extend in to the aquatic organism. Establishing a data collection system and recording the occurrence of the diseases and other documents under supervision of responsible planning organization and with participation of farmer unions cooperative of fish farmers, their special veterinarians, prepare data banks regarding aquatic health and diseases through the Internet. Vaccine and serum production institute of Iran (Razy) produces vaccines and serum for human and animal purposes. This institute is capable to produce the needed aquatic vaccine. Its viral laboratory facilities are well equipped and is able to conduct research projects on the viral diseases of aquatic animals.