GovWire

1. Introduction

The application of biosecurity in aquaculture is a shared responsibility where each individual involved plays a different but critical role in the implementation of the overall programme. In order to be effective, biosecurity is necessary at all levels within the aquaculture industry, from the control of the spread of infectious disease at an international level to the development of national controls and to the operation of suitable practices at a local level. In these terms, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) monitors the international status of diseases, our Government (through Cefas) is responsible for controlling biosecurity within national limits, and at a local level Aquaculture Production Businesses (APBs) are responsible for biosecurity within their enterprises.

The key elements of biosecurity include: practical and appropriate legislative controls, adequate diagnostic and detection methods for infectious diseases, disinfection and pathogen eradication methods, reliable high quality sources of stock, and best management practices.

At the local level, implementation of an effective biosecurity measures plan is essential in reducing the risk of disease introduction to an APB. This follows the fundamental principle that prevention is better than the cure. In addition, it is widely accepted that prevention of aquatic animal disease is cheaper than the cure.

The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 recognises the importance of effective biosecurity measures in restricting the spread of disease. It requires APB operators to implement a biosecurity measures plan as a condition of their authorisation.

These guidelines are designed to help the APB operator identify biosecurity measures that might be applicable to their site. It describes biosecurity measures that can be implemented and includes templates (based on an APBs activities) to enable APB operators to develop and operate a meaningful plan of their own.

2. Appointing a Biosecurity Manager

Identify an individual with the responsibility to ensure biosecurity measures are implemented at an APB, or over several APBs if the business is made up of more than one site. The biosecurity manager is responsible for producing and maintaining a biosecurity measures plan, as well as demonstrating its effectiveness through use of good record keeping (see Section 7). Additional responsibilities include ensuring staff are trained in biosecurity issues and visitors are aware of measures that apply to them. It is good practice to appoint a deputy in the event that the manager is unavailable.

3. Veterinary Health Contacts

The biosecurity manager should identify a veterinarian, and if appropriate an aquatic animal health consultant with specialised knowledge of aquatic animal health issues. The manager should endeavour to establish a good working relationship with their nominated veterinary professionals.

4. Providing Staff Training in Aquatic Animal Health Management and Disease Recognition

A fundamental requirement when identifying risks to your APB is an awareness of the following: diseases that can affect your stock, clinical signs of disease, host susceptibility and the range of environmental parameters that could precipitate clinical outbreaks. You are legally obliged to report suspicion of listed diseases in aquatic animals to the Fish Health Inspectorate, for more information see Listed diseases of fish, molluscs and crustacea and their status. Staff training and periodic refresher courses will facilitate better disease recognition in aquatic animals stocks, and informed and trained staff will be of greater benefit to the business. Training should be through continuous learning rather than a one-off exercise.

Information on aquatic animal diseases can be obtained from a variety of sources:

• The Fish Health Inspectorate

• Attendance at short courses or completion of distance learning courses on aquatic animal health and disease

• Textbooks

• Disease recognition leaflets and posters

• Internet further information on these resources is available on the Cefas Fish Health Inspectorate

• Veterinarians and aquatic animal health professionals

• Conferences and meetings

5. Identify the Risks of Contracting and Spreading Disease

One of the greatest risks of introducing an infectious agent into an APB comes with movements of aquatic animals. Where aquatic animals or eggs have to be introduced from outside sources you should consider the following:

• Assess the potential quality of the aquatic animals by ensuring your supplier is working to good bio-security practices.

• Do not hesitate to ask for details of aquatic animal health surveillance programmes and disease records

• Be aware of the provenance of the aquatic animals when buying from any supplier

• The stock must not be exhibiting any clinical signs of disease at the time of transport

• Attention should be paid to both transport water sources and disinfection procedures applied to the equipment used in transport

• Disinfect eggs before incubation and dispose of packaging in a safe and bio-secure manner

• If possible, isolate introductions of aquatic animals from other stocks until their health status can be established

• Consider the risks associated with the movements of dead aquatic animals or aquatic animal products and waste for processing

• Consider the risk posed by wild aquatic animals

By implementing a higher level of isolation, by identifying epidemiologically separated areas within a site, you can help reduce the impacts of disease on an APB.

In addition to the obvious potential of introducing disease through movements of aquatic animals into an APB, there are other routes through which infectious agents can be introduced and spread. A comprehensive biosecurity measures plan should cover these risks. Some areas for consideration are:

• Use of shared equipment and vehicle

• Visitors to the site, including: delivery drivers, other APB operators, veterinarians and aquatic animal health professionals, inspection agencies, etc

• Presence of vermin, birds and other predators capable of introducing or spreading disease

• The potential for water or wild aquatic animals to transfer disease either to or from the APB

• The management of extreme weather conditions floods and tides

• Access by anglers and members of the public to the site

• Access to the site by aquatic animal transporters

6. Risk Limitation Measures

Once risks have been identified the APB biosecurity manager should decide on appropriate systems and procedures to control or reduce these risks. Such measures may include:

• Early identification of disease through regular stock inspections

• Training staff to recognise clinical signs of disease and enable them to identify procedures that carry a risk of introducing or spreading disease

• Ensure that aquatic animal husbandry is suitable for the species being held or cultivated

• Limit APB access to authorised staff or approved visitors

• Provide advice on biosecurity to visitors at farm sites and anglers at fishing lakes

• Identify and set up zones within your APB, e.g. hatchery, fishery lake, packing and processing, parking, storage

• Restrict access to these zones

• Provide zone-specific protective clothing. Consider using colour-coded boots/overalls for particular zones

• The use of suitable disinfectants and disinfection procedures for personal protective equipment and other equipment

• Introduce disinfection protocols for site visitors (including delivery vehicles)

It is the biosecurity managers responsibility to ensure these measures are implemented and regularly monitored for compliance.

7. Monitoring the Plan

Once procedures and measures have been implemented it is essential to maintain a clear recording system for results of checks made and actions taken. Accurate recording will aid the biosecurity manager to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions when a disease or breach of biosecurity occurs. A comprehensive log or diary can be used to demonstrate to interested parties (customers, senior management, auditors, quality management and inspection agencies) that a biosecurity measures plan is in operation. Examples of information to be recorded in the log are listed below.

7.1 Stock Health Inspections

• Routine inspection of stock should be an essent

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