A number of examples in recent history have shown how “diseases shape aquaculture”. Relevant examples to be mentioned are the outbreak of infectious salmon anemia in Chile in 2007 and the Faroe Islands in 2000; viral haemorrhagic septicaemia in Denmark in the 1980s and its eradication campaign which followed in 2009 and the occurrence of white spot syndrome virus in Southeast Asia in 1994. The current European legislative framework for control of aquatic animal diseases refers primarily to Council Directive 2006/88. This directive covers the whole aquaculture production giving general guidelines on disease control and providing some specific provisions for certain diseases.