In order to think and study the scientific and executive capacities of the country in the research and development of aquatic animal vaccine production, a meeting was held at the session hall of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute – Karaj on August 11, 2020. This meeting was held in the presence of the officials and the thematic experts from the Iran Fisheries Organization, the Iran Veterinary Organization, the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, the research institutes, the Research Training Center of the University of Tehran, and the Biotechnology Development Headquarters of the Vice - Presidency for Science and Technology of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. At this meeting, the director of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute noted that aquaculture is a very important and promising industry in the country, and said: Serious attention to the economic, social and cultural spheres, and in particular the reform of laws, will be necessary for vaccination in aquaculture production. He instructed the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute and three research institutes as well as two national centers (out of 11 affiliated research centers) in the field of research and development of technical knowledge of aquatic animal vaccine production, farm trials and challenge tests. Dr. Khon Mirzaei, the head of the Iran Fisheries Organization, while providing valuable information on the process of aquaculture in the country, added: In the coming years, overtaking aquaculture production over capture fisheries production will be one of the strategic approaches of the organization to protect the natural resources of aquatic animals. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the production of vaccines. Also, Dr. Javadi, the deputy director for research and technology of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, pointed out the new approach of this organization in influencing research results in the executive and exploitation in the agricultural sector. He announced the development of packages that are the result of research performance and include zero to one hundred of research, development, marketing and use of technical knowledge of products. The deputy director for research and technology of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization entrusted the establishment of the Steering Committee for Research and Production of Aquatic Animal Vaccines to the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute and the institute also acted immediately in this regard. In this decree, he emphasized the use of all scientific capacities of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, especially the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, and the Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran in interaction with the Iran Fisheries Organization and the universities and the private sector. Dr. Ishaghi, the head of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute - Karaj, also presented valuable information on the principles of vaccination. He mentioned the economics of production as a key element and presented a report on the experiences of well known countries in the production and use of vaccines in the world aquaculture industry. Dr. Ishaghi announced the readiness of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute - Karaj for the domestic production of aquatic animal vaccines. He appreciated the cooperation of scientific organizations and institutions of the country. Then, the general manager of the Aquatic Animal Health and Disease Management of the Iran Veterinary Organization said: Due to the bitter experiences of the past in the field of importing aquatic vaccines, an aquatic vaccination development plan has been prepared which is a kind of revision and revival in this field. Dr. Amrullah Ghajari pointed out that the issue of aquatic animal vaccines is a new issue in the world and in the country compared to livestock and poultry vaccines. He added: Accordingly, disease and control and management of aquatic animal diseases are in such a position. It is no wonder, then, that we are lagging behind in livestock and poultry vaccines. Dr. Ghajari emphasized the need to review and revive the field of aquatic animal vaccines, and added: A draft has been prepared for the development program of aquatic animal vaccination in the country in which we tried to see and implement the reality of the country because we had bitter experiences in this field in the past due to the import of vaccines. He continued: We must act logically, scientifically and on the basis of scientific findings. He noted: In this regard, the Aquatic Animal Vaccination Development Program can be a document for new movements in the country. The general manager of the Aquatic Animal Health and Disease Management of the Iran Veterinary Organization considered the vaccine as a tool for disease management and prevention and considered the correct and safe use of the vaccine as a very important issue. He said: This issue should be addressed along with the optimal management of fish farming. Dr. Nabiollah Khon Mirzaei at the meeting of Steering Committee for Research and Production of Aquatic Animal Vaccines, which was held in the presence of the relevant officials at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, stated that the reputation, position and leadership of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in the field of vaccine research and serum production is very prominent and unique in the world and in the Middle East. He stated: In the field of aquatic animal vaccines, we did not move according to the production plans and policies had to be developed for it in the past and then the necessary tasks had to be defined for each organization, including the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. He said that although it is late, today we are addressing and highlighting this need, and added: Given the human resources, experiences and infrastructure facilities of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, the exchange of expectations with this institute is underway. The head of the Iran Fisheries Organization noted: This collaboration began last year with the vaccine we needed, as part of the outstanding program of the Iran Fisheries Organization, to farm fish in cages at sea. He continued: Although I was confident in the ability of my colleagues at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, I did not think that the vaccine would be made in that short time, but the vaccine was produced. I have this confidence in meeting the need for vaccines in other areas as well. Dr. Khon Mirzaei stated: In specialized working groups, after explaining the current situation, the necessary study on diseases, the amount of damage, and the health and biosecurity measures should be considered to determine what role the vaccine can play in this area. He considered the first step of this important task to be the responsibility of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute and added: Accordingly, by producing technical knowledge in this field, we can launch and encourage the rest of the knowledge - based sectors and companies and private sector investors to benefit the beneficiaries. In this way, we can protect the national interest by benefiting all those involved to achieve the goals. Dr. Khosh Khalgh Sima, the head of the Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Dr. Erfan Manesh, the head of the Research Training Center of the University of Tehran, Dr. Ghajari, the general manager of the Aquatic Animal Health and Disease Management of the Iran Veterinary Organization, Dr. Kolahdooz from the Biotechnology Development Headquarters of the Vice - Presidency for Science and Technology of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Dr. Sepahdari, the head of the department of aquatic animal health and diseases of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, expressed their views on the issues, challenges and potentials of vaccine production. The need to support the domestic production of aquatic animal vaccines, the need for synergy of all stakeholders and the executive and research departments as well as beneficiaries, the need to communicate mandatory instructions for the use of vaccines according to domestic conditions by the Iran Veterinary Organization, improving the management processes and health infrastructure of aquaculture centers by the Iran Fisheries Organization, launching the production line and the program to produce technical knowledge of aquatic animal vaccines in accordance with the priorities of the Iran Veterinary Organization by researchers of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, providing epidemiological information on diseases, conducting farm trials for the research on the use of vaccines and holding educational and promotional programs by fisheries researchers as well as the proposal to establish a National Steering Committee for Research and Production of Aquatic Animal Vaccines in the Ministry were the most important issues that were agreed upon at the end of the meeting.