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02/06/06
FACT Asks Minister for Compensation to
Fish Farmers in VHS Outbreak Fisheries
and Angling Conservation Trust Ltd (FACT) has written to David
Miliband Secretary
of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asking
that he reconsider
the position of fish farmers, subject to mandatory fish
slaughters in the event
of disease outbreaks, being denied compensation for
their stock, after the
recent discovery of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, VHS,
in trout stocks in
Yorkshire. There
are no measures in place to provide compensation to fish farmers in the
event
of compulsory slaughter of diseased fish in UK. This contrasts with the
situation
in regard to other animal husbandry businesses. This is a
long-standing problem
that has been in contention for many years and on which
government has been
immovable. Control
of VHS, as well as other serious diseases such as Gyrodactylus Salaris,
relies
on early reporting of suspicion of disease. There are legal requirements
placed
on the industry for such reporting and the defence of UK Fish Health
relies
on that reporting being carried out in a responsible manner. However,
reliance
on this all important early reporting, without compensation in the
event of
compulsory slaughter, is a seriously weak link in UK Fish Health
arrangements
and a potential danger to what is a significant part of the UK
economy. FACT
advises fishery managers to increase biosecurity measures in the light of
this
outbreak and to ensure that dips and washes are replaced regularly and
used
efficiently. Ends
For
further information contact; Michael
Heylin
07836 718187 Notes
For Editors 1.
The Fisheries & Angling Conservation Trust (FACT) is a company, limited by
guarantee,
formed in January 2005 to protect and promote the interests of
angling and
recreational fisheries in the UK. 2.
FACT encompasses the work undertaken hitherto by the National Angling
Alliance
(NAA) and the Moran Committee. Its subscribing members are:- ·
Angling Trades Association (ATA)
· Professional Coarse Fisheries Association
(PCFA)
· National Association of Fisheries & Angling Consultatives
(NAFAC)
· National Federation of Anglers (NFA)
· National
Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA)
· Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA)
·
Specialist Anglers Alliance (SAA)
· Association of Stillwater Game Fishery
Managers (ASGFM)
· Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST)
· Anglers Conservation
Association (ACA)
VHS
is principally a disease of farmed rainbow trout, but most salmonid fish are
considered
susceptible, as are whitefish (Coregonus spp), grayling and pike. The
disease
has also been reported from farmed turbot, and wild Pacific herring.
The virus
has been isolated from numerous marine fish species, in the Atlantic
Ocean:
Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Gadus aeglefinus), poor cod
(Trisopterus
minutus), rockling (Rhinonemus cimbrius), sprat (Clupea sprattus),
herring
(Clupea harengus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), blue whiting
(Micromesistius
poutassou), lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena), Norway pout
(Trisopterus
esmarki). Diagnostic tests have suggested the presence of the virus
in other
marine species, from which the virus has yet to be isolated.
Outbreaks
are typified by a sudden increase in mortality rates. Symptoms include
darkening
of the body, swollen eyes (exopthalmia), distended abdomen and
haemorrhaging
at the vent and bases of the fins. Fish may become moribund and
congregate
around the pond outlets and sides. They may also show erratic
swimming behaviour
such as darting, spiralling and swimming on their sides.
Internal signs include
haemorrhaging on the surfaces of the visceral fat and
internal organs and throughout
the musculature, with accumulation of fluid in
the abdominal cavity. There
is no treatment for VHS. As a List II notifiable disease there is a legal
obligation
to report any suspected outbreaks of VHS to the Fish Health
Inspectorate. VHS
can lead to up to 80% mortality of stocks.
Michael
Heylin
Director
Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust Ltd
One Voice
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