Transparency data

FHI Quarterly Report - 1 January to 31 March 2014

Updated 12 March 2015

Applies to England and Wales

1. Finfish and shellfish health

No significant problems have occurred on fish farms during the first quarter of 2014. Water temperatures did not reach the prolonged low levels generally seen during the winter period, and the high volume of water available to fish farms has undoubtedly contributed to better husbandry conditions on the more intensively farmed sites and fewer disease problems.

Following extensive flooding during winter and early spring in a number of areas across England, the FHI contacted all sites under statutory controls and advised them to report any flooding or threat of flooding due to the potential for fish escapes. None of the sites under statutory disease controls reported that they were affected by flooding.

Some years ago the FHI contributed to an Environment Agency study into unexplained mortalities in carp populations described as Spring Carp Mortality Syndrome (SCMS). Whilst a causative agent for SCMS was not identified the study could not rule out the possibility that an infectious pathogen was implicated in the mortality events. Since the recent identification of CEV-like virus as a cause of mortality in a number of carp fisheries in England samples of the original material from the SCMS study are being examined by Cefas researchers for the presence of CEV-like virus. This will ascertain whether this pathogen was the cause of the SCMS mortalities, and whether the virus has been present in carp populations in England for some time.

Initial designations on three shellfish farms in North Norfolk following the identification of a new parasite Microcytos mimicus in stocks of Pacific oysters, remain in place whilst further studies are underway to determine the potential impact of the parasite.

A project to test the resilience of Pacific oyster seed from various sources to oyster herpesvirus (OsHV-1 µvar) infection is underway with an operator of a shellfish farm in Dorset. Further advice has been provided to a shellfish operation on the sourcing of suitable native oyster stocks for their oyster regeneration programme in Essex.

2. Disease investigations

In January high levels of mortality in juvenile rainbow trout in hatchery facilities in Dorset was reported. Diagnostic tests undertaken by the FHI confirmed that the mortalities were due to bacterial gill disease caused by Flavobacterium branchiophilium. Whilst this disease is far from uncommon this particular infection proved to be very resilient to the standard treatment regimes and took a considerable time to control through the combined use of antibiotics, water treatment and disinfectants.

Research is continuing at Cefas into puffy skin disease. Reports from Fish Health Inspectors following disease surveillance visits to fish farms indicates that the condition appears to be becoming established in a significant number of trout farms in England and Wales. Further studies are planned to demonstrate whether the condition is transmissible between fish populations, and a detailed study of the epidemiology of the condition on an affected farm is scheduled to take place.

2.1 Breakdown of fish activities

Activity	Number
Compliance visits to authorised APBs	116
Routine disease inspections	111
Surveillance or sample on suspicion of notifiable disease	31
Visits resulting from confirmation of notifiable disease	1
Authorised inspections	29

2.2 Breakdown of shellfish activities

Activity	Number
Compliance visits to authorised aquaculture production businesses	6
Routine disease inspections	7
Surveillance on suspicion of notifiable disease	5

3. Investigations and enforcement

The FHI is working with the Fish Veterinary Society to develop an information briefing note for fish health professionals improving understanding of fish health professionals with regard to their legal responsibilities under aquatic animal health legislation.

The FHI drafted a briefing note on fish health and illegal movements for use by the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service which supports the work of the Environment Agency’s Fishery Enforcement Officers.

A consignment of fish was intercepted and inspected at Dover docks as part of our routine surveillance programme at points of entry into the UK. Such joint surveillance activities contributes to the strengthening of the working relationship between the FHI and the UK Border Force (UKBA) with further information about the trade in fish being provided for UKBA staff at airports and ports.

In February our Enforcement team attended an inter-Agency conference in Paris aiming to reduce the illegal movement of fish into the UK.

3.1 Breakdown of investigations and enforcement activities

Activity	Number
Regulation notices	36
Advice and warning letters issued	7
Enforcement notice	0
Unannounced visits	13

4. Advice and representation

Defra held their annual aquatic animal health stakeholder meeting at the Cefas Weymouth laboratory in March. Stakeholder groups in attendance included the British Trout Association, the Angling Trust, the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, and representatives of the coarse fish farming and trading sector.

Finfish News Issue 15 was published in February.

Presentations were delivered at the Fish Veterinary Society spring meeting on cherry fin condition in trout, and the control of Gyrodactylus salaris in Norway.

FHI inspectors attended two specialist carp trade shows.

The deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK received an update on current aquatic animal health and a presentation on Gyrodactylus salaris when he visited the Cefas Weymouth laboratory in March.

5. Service charter

During the quarter the Aquatic Trade and Technical Advice team dealt with 1,089 calls and 1,516 emails.

The Aquatic Animal Health & Movements (AAHM) website received 10,988 visitors.

Reporting of test results and visit only letters issued by inspectors totalled 183 of which 82% were inside the target of responding within 15 working days.

A full breakdown of the FHI’s performance under the service charter is available in Issue 15 of Finfish News.

6. Trade

Liaison took place with the Croatian competent authority regarding an issue with SVC status in Croatia, and the provision of advice on VHS controls following discussions between the Croatian, Irish and UK.

Liaison took place with the USDA regarding exports of SVC susceptible species of fish to the USA.

The total number of aquatic trade consignments imported into England and Wales from other EU countries in the last quarter was 86. The breakdown is as follows:

Country	Number
France	29
Guernsey	22
Netherlands	7
IOM	6
Germany	5
Denmark	4
Portugal	4
Eire	3
N. Ireland	3
Czechoslovakia	2
Hungary	1

The total number of aquatic trade consignments exported from England and Wales to countries in the EU in the last quarter was 111. The breakdown is as follows:

Country	Number
Eire	51
Northern Ireland	11
Jersey	10
Germany	6
Denmark	5
Estonia	4
France	4
Holland	4
Sweden	3
Finland	2
Lithuania	2
Poland	2
Spain	2
England	1
Guernsey	1
Italy	1
Norway	1
Turkey	1

7. Next quarter

We will focus on:

• further inspections and sampling of the north Norfolk shellfish farms under designation will be undertaken when the likelihood of clinical disease presenting is higher i.e. low water temperatures in the spring followed by a sudden rise likely in June/July
• completing the spring SVC monitoring programme
• preparing for the KHV sentinel programme
• testing the prototype of the FHI digital visit reporting application