DiseaseListed statusdiseases of fish, shellfishmolluscs and crustaceancrustacea and their status

If you suspect notifiablea listed fish or shellfish disease

Serious‘Listed’ diseases of fish orand shellfish diseases are calleddiseases ‘notifiable’that becauseyou’re youlegally mustobliged immediatelyto report thatimmediately you suspect or know about them to the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI).

You), mustCefas, telleven theif FHIyou immediatelyonly ifsuspect yourthat fishan oranimal shellfish:

• couldmay be infectedaffected. withThey aare notifiablealso diseasereferred (youto mustas report‘notifiable’ itdiseases.

  Listed evendiseases ifcan yoube:

  • endemic only– suspectalready anpresent infection)in GB, such as Koi herpesvirus (KHV)
  • areexotic dying– not normally present in largerGB, numberssuch oras moreViral thanhaemorrhagic normalsepticaemia (VHS)

  The listed diseases of fish and shellfish are affectedin Commission Regulation (EC) 1251/2008 as amended by unusualthe deaths

Disease status for England and Wales

Fish

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Disease investigationsinvestigation and control

If the FHI suspects a notifiablelisted or emerging disease:

1. an Initial Designation Notice is made to prevent further spread of disease from the affected area by restricting movements of fish or shellfish, and through application of additional biosecurity measures when required. An initial designation notice is not made public.

2. the

   the FHI will willcarry undertake out a disease investigation which includes collection of samples to test for the diseasedisease. in question. Depending on the type of tests required it can take a minimum of 14 days or more from receipt of sample at the laboratory to getting results,results. the The FHI will will advise the site operator on what to expect and keep them informed of progress.

3. if the tests are negative and notifiablelisted or emerging disease isn’t foundis ruled out the Initial Designation Notice is lifted immediately.

lifted.
4. if

If notifiablea orlisted emerging disease is confirmed (the tests are positive), the FHI make confirmed:

1. a Confirmed Designation Notice (a legal order restricting movements of aquatic animals into, out of and within the affected area).area) is made to prevent or limit the spread of the disease from the affected area. A Confirmed Designation Notice is made publicly available published on GOV.UK and signs may be put up in the affected area to inform the public.

2. further controls may include restricting vehicle and equipment movements, restricting some site activities (like disposal of waste) or any other activity that could spread the disease, and additional biosecurity measures (like usinguse of on-site equipment disinfectiondisinfection) facilities).may also be required.

3. the FHI investigate where the disease came from and whether it has spread, and put controls on sites where the disease could have spread from or to (for example when fish or shellfish have been moved or there are water and equipment connections) to prevent or limit further spread. These sites are also investigated on suspicion of listed disease.

4. a Confirmed Designation Notice can only be lifted when the the FHI are are satisfied that the disease is no longer present in the affected area. This requires themay following,require as determined by the FHIfollowing andactions: based on official requirements and controls::

• FHI supervise supervisethe a stock cull, site clearance and disinfection (this is the preferred option and happens whenever possible)disinfection.

• and/ or completion of a satisfactory monitoring and retest programme by by FHI - - this can be up to 4 years, any re-occurrence of the disease during that period means the programme must be restartedrestarted.

How to prevent the introduction and spread of listed diseases

Prevention is the best approach to disease control. You can protect fish and shellfish from serious diseases by being vigilant about stock health and husbandry, quick to report any stock health concerns to the FHI, and by:

• following strict biosecurity practices. All authorised aquaculture production business must follow an approved biosecurity measures plan.

• following the rules on imports and exports

• knowing the health status of the animals you are buying or moving

• report suspicion of listed disease in fish and shellfish to the Fish Health Inspectorate as soon as possible

Outbreaks of fish and shellfish disease

For up to date confirmed disease outbreaks in England and Wales.

Read the regulations

SeriousListed fish and shellfish diseases are controlled by law under the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.

Contact

Email: fhi@cefas.co.uk

Telephone: 01305 206700

Monday to Thursday - 9am9:00 am to 5pm,5:00 pm, Friday 9am9:00 am to 4:30 pm

For emergencies out of hours telephone: 01305 206630