A comparative analysis of the socio-economic impacts of infectious salmon anemia - perspectives from Chile and Norway

The proposal aims to establish a larger cooperative research project on the impact and management of infectious salmon anemia (ISA). As the salmon industry expands, both in scale and geographic scope globally, the potential impact of disease epidemics on the sector, society, and environment will increase accordingly. The project focuses on identifying cost-effective policy measures in the control of ISA, highlighting current disease control practices and complications in Chile and Norway. To achieve this we aim to conduct a bi-national, broader analysis of the epidemiological and economic/socio-economic/management aspects of ISA control, both at the industry and government level. It is planned ex-post studies of empirical data as well as ex-ante studies o n future control strategies. Results from the preliminary research proposed here will be used as proof-of-principle for a grant proposal to be submitted for funding to the INNOVA-CHILE / Chilean Economic Development Agency (http://english.corfo.cl/). Our project team has considerable knowledge in animal health economics, and experience in the analysis of infectious disease such as ISA, this through development and use of transmission- and economical models for aquaculture. The project aims to contribute t o sustainable growth in aquaculture and over time establish a Center of Excellence in aquatic health economics that would have relevance to global aquaculture issues more generally.