April 13, 2009

New aquatic animal health regulations came into force on March 27, 2009 in England, Wales and Scotland, which will affect all aquaculture production businesses (APB) in the UK, warns Seafish.

This includes all fin fish farms, traders in live aquatic animals, shellfish and crustacean farms, shellfish purification and dispatch centres, some processors and small scale producers for the local market.

Under the new Aquatic Animal Health Directive, all APB must be authorised by the competent authority, the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI).

For England and Wales this is based at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and for Scotland at the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen.

Seafish legislation team official Sarah Horsfall said this new legislation is designed to provide more transparent regulation and control systems by consolidating existing aquatic animal health legislation into a single regulation.

The new regulation will provide a public register of authorised aquaculture production businesses, including suppliers of aquatic animals, and an official register of stocked fisheries and cropping waters.

Horsfall said for the first time specialist transporters of aquatic animals have been singled out, in which they need to be registered, and have disease control measures in place, such as disinfecting their vehicles and equipment prior to loading.

She added that there is also the requirement for production businesses to produce a biosecurity measures plan where appropriate and to keep a record of all movements of aquaculture animals and products into and out of the site or business in order to comply with authorisation requirements, and also mortality records are needed wherever they are reasonably practicable.

Seafish legislation team advises the industry on its current legal requirements and engages with government on any proposed changes to legislation affecting the seafood industry.