Regulation of Aquaculture

1
Regulation of Aquaculture

• Aquatic Animal Health Directive 2006/88/EC
• Catherine Harrold,
• Project Manager,
• Aquatic Animal Health Directive

2
What do we want to do?

• In the first place, prevent serious diseases
  happening in UK
• If they do happen
• Ensure we are onto them quickly
• Minimise the impact of silent spread
• Minimise the impact of controls.
• Reassure other countries that our disease status
  can be relied on.

3
Why?

• Minimise the cost of disease - money, reputation
• Support industry
• Operate to common rules across EU and world
• Ensure rest of world believes in our health
  status.

4
Approach

• Regulation that
• minimises spread of disease
• fosters trade and does not over-regulate business
• is accepted internationally
• takes a risk-based approach.

5
So

• Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006
  on animal health requirements for aquaculture
  animals and products thereof, and on the
  prevention and control of certain diseases in
  aquatic animals (L 328 24.11.2006) plus
• Corrigendum (L 140 1.6.2007)

6
Implementation in England Wales

• By 7 March reply to consultation (hard copy or
  fishhealth_at_Defra.gsi.gov.uk)
• By 1 May regulations must be in place
• By 1 August regulations must come into force.

7
Risk/threat

• Movement of live fish
• Range of diseases, including epizootic
  haematopoietic necrosis (EHN), viral haemorrhagic
  septicaemia (VHS), infectious salmon anaemia
  (ISA), emerging disease

8
Main features

• All fish farms (and others) must be authorised by
  Fish Health Inspectorate
• Trade between different areas must be certified
• Those who look after fish must notify if they
  suspect theyve got one of the diseases.

9
Some difficult areasAuthorisation

• To be authorised you must
• Keep movement and mortality records
• Participate in risk-based surveillance schemes
• Implement Biosecurity Measures (Good Hygiene
  Practice)

10
Questions include

• What is suspicion of disease? What is unresolved
  increased mortality?
• What are appropriate Biosecurity Measures? How
  can FHI enforce them?
• What can we do to keep business going whilst
  still controlling disease outbreaks (can we make
  use of compartments)