Identification and Analysis of Stakeholders in the Biosecurity of Aquaculture Farms in Kermanshah Province

Governance of biosecurity in aquaculture depends on the identification and analysis of stakeholders' perspectives. The current research aimed to identify and determine the stakeholders' position in the aquaculture farms' biosecurity in Kermanshah province, which was done using a mixed method. Data were collected by purposive sampling of aquaculture professionals. In the first step, after three Delphi steps and semi-structured interviews with 15 people, 29 biosecurity stakeholders were identified. By drawing the affecting-affected and power-benefit matrix, each stakeholder's position in the farms' health measures was determined. Also, the role of stakeholders and their position in the biosecurity process was determined by using a researcher-made questionnaire. Based on the results, the primary implementers of biosecurity are government institutions, which were in a higher position than other stakeholders in scientific, social, political, and legal power and gained more benefits from implementing biosecurity measures. Fish farmers should be the center of attention for other stakeholders to achieve biosecurity goals. A group of stakeholders, contrary to their valuable role in the sustainability of health measures, play a minimal role, which has weakened biosecurity. The results of conventional content analysis led to identifying 85 sentences in the form of 38 conceptual propositions. The categories presented in the study of power and benefit interviews can be used to build capacity and promote greater participation and interaction between stakeholders in the biosecurity strategy.