5 Purpose of compartmentalization

Compartmentalization represents the functional separation of subpopulations of aquatic animals based on disease status through the implementation and documentation of management and biosecurity measures (Zepeda, Jones and Zagmutt, 2008; OIE, 2016).

In contrast to a zone, the biosecurity management of a compartment is the responsibility of those in control of compartments (Zepeda, Jones and Zagmutt, 2008).
Active surveillance for presence of a specific infectious disease can lead to declaration of freedom of disease where no evidence of infection can be found in a zone or compartment. Such declarations are difficult when dealing with large transboundary watersheds. In such cases, declarations need to be limited to distinct compartments, the smallest compartment being an individual farm and its water source.
The management of a compartment should encompass disease-specific epidemiological factors, a defined aquatic animal species within the compartment, production systems, biosecurity practices, infrastructural components and surveillance (OIE, 2016).

Compartments should be clearly documented by the respective competent authority of a country.
Declaration of freedom of a particular disease from a compartment has many advantages relating to trade where the market or the importing country requires disease-status guarantees. Where a country is unable to supply such guarantees on a national or zone level, either through a lack of supportive data or because a zone is infected with a disease, biosecurity and management practices within a compartment may be used to prove negligible disease risk from a subpopulation.
To meet the requirements of importing countries, compartments need to be under the responsibility of the competent authority of the country (OIE, 2016).
Provided an aquaculture operation meets the required biosecurity standards, compartmentalization offers an internationally acceptable means of providing guarantees.