Transparency data

FHI Quarterly Report - 1 July to 30 September 2018

Updated 28 March 2019

Applies to England and Wales

1. Finfish, shellfish and amphibian health

The summer period provides significant challenges to the Fish Health Inspectorate due to the increased number of reports of serious disease events in aquatic animals, particularly in managed fisheries. Good progress has been made in maintaining the delivery of the compliance and inspection programmes on fish farms during the quarter whilst a high number of disease investigations have been undertaken. The FHI has continued to attend and undertaken investigations at all fish mortality events where serious disease is suspected. The fin fish farm compliance programme is 86% completed, a significant increase in programme completion as compared with this stage in 2017. The remaining salmonid farm inspections are scheduled for the autumn/winter period. The KHV disease programme was completed whilst water temperatures were conducive for the expression of clinical disease. The inspection target was exceeded due to an increased number of unscheduled visits to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. The Fish Health Inspectorate has ensured that all programmes remain on target for completion by the end of the calendar year.

Disease surveillance programmes on shellfish farms in England and Wales is temperature dependent due to the biological characteristics of the listed diseases of molluscan shellfish. Disease surveillance and compliance inspection programmes commence in spring and extend through to autumn. To date good progress has been made in discharging the 2018 programme with the remaining sites subject to inspection visits during autumn

2. Disease investigations – Finfish

The exceptional period of dry, hot weather in late June and July that particularly affected southern England resulted in a high number of reports of fish mortalities in managed fisheries. July proved to be the busiest month during the summer for the FHI with regard to disease investigations with 20 reports of significant mortality events. Lower ambient temperatures in August is reflected in 14 reports that month and 8 reports in September. During the quarter the FHI placed 32 initial designations on sites on suspicion of notifiable diseases. Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease continues to be the most significant cause of mortality in common carp. Disease investigations resulted in 23 Confirmed Designations (CD’s) placed on managed fisheries as a result of KHV disease.

The infected waters are in Cornwall; Hereford; Berkshire; Cheshire; Shropshire; Lancashire; Derbyshire; Herefordshire; Lincolnshire; Buckinghamshire; Greater London; Essex; Norfolk; Clwyd; Hampshire and Yorkshire.

Three of the infected waters, have previously been subject to Confirmed Designations for KHV disease, and in addition KHV disease was re-detected in diseased fish at one fishery in Northamptonshire which are subject to Confirmed Designations following disease outbreaks in 2017.

Following reports of mortalities by hobbyists in recently purchased koi, disease investigations were undertaken at three ornamental fish importers. KHV disease was detected in stocks of koi at all three premises. Under Confirmed Designations susceptible species of fish were culled and the holding facilities subject to supervised disinfection.

The Fish Health Inspectorate was contacted by a leading fish health specialist about a condition affecting rainbow trout at a farm in southern England. Up to 100% of fish exhibited a progressive deformity leading to a locked jaw due to massive proliferation of connective tissue around the head. Affected fish cannot ventilate their gills effectively, cannot feed properly, exhibit inappetence, with mortality rates of around 75%. Brown trout are unaffected as are fish stocks on other farms operated by the business. An inspection of the farm was undertaken by Fish Health Inspectors, and samples of fish taken for diagnostic testing. Further work including an epidemiological study is planned in order to identify the cause of the problem.

The Fish Health Inspectorate undertakes annual surveillance for the parasite of Atlantic salmon Gyrodactylus salaris on river catchments in England and Wales, with all major river catchments covered under a five-year rolling surveillance programme. This work is undertaken with colleagues from Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency who provide expertise in sampling wild fish from river systems. In 2016 the FHI introduced a non-destructive testing method for gyrodactylids which avoids the need to destroy any fish. This has resulted in an additional beneficial effect in facilitating larger sample sizes giving greater confidence that our waters remain free from this highly pathogenic parasite.

3. Disease investigations – Shellfish and Amphibians

The FHI continues to work with Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCA’s) on the identification of American lobsters Homarus americanus. Captured American lobsters are submitted to the FHI for testing for the causative agent of the disease gaffkaemia Aerococcus viridans var. homari. In addition, studies in Cefas are taking place on the potential for hybridisation between American lobsters and the European lobster Homarus gammarus, and whether any progeny have the capacity to successfully reproduce.

Following the introduction of trade controls on salamanders and newts under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320 in relation to the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans there have been few enquiries from the trade sector about the establishment of approved premises for the quarantine of these animals. Two organisations are considering the development of approved premises for the rescue of illegally imported salamanders and newts seized at points of import.

3.1 Breakdown of fish activities

Activity	Number
Compliance visits to authorised APBs	77
Routine disease inspections	139
Surveillance or sample on suspicion of notifiable disease	68
Visits resulting from confirmation of notifiable disease	118
Authorisation inspections	11

3.2 Breakdown of shellfish activities

Activity	Number
Compliance visits to authorised APBs	51
Routine disease inspections	66
Surveillance on suspicion of notifiable disease	3
Visits resulting from confirmation of notifiable disease	1
Authorisation inspections	4

4. Investigations and enforcement

The FHI is currently trialling a new intelligence management system with a view to adopting the application for the management of investigations, referrals, risk, intelligence, and outcome management. The application is in use in other Defra agencies, notably the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and should the FHI adopt this system, which is fully compliant with the National Intelligence Model, it will facilitate the exchange and analysis of intelligence across government.

Spartic trout are a hybrid between brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus. Their introduction into riverine habitats is not permitted in England and Wales. The FHI is assisting Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in investigating the occurrence of spartic trout in a river in South Wales. Cefas is contributing to a project on illegal wildlife trade in relation to Elasmobranch (sharks and rays) products with the Indonesian Government and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Many species of sharks and rays are regarded as having a threatened conservation status and are subject to international legislative measures to conserve stocks. However, products from protected species such as skin, flesh, cartilage and oil are difficult to distinguish from products from species which are permitted to be legally exploited. A member of the FHI will undertake an audit of the administration of exports from Indonesia with a view to strengthening and improving the controls on shark and ray products.

The invasive alien species (IAS) Regulations (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 establishes measures to be taken across the EU in relation to the control of invasive non-native species. A list of invasive alien species of Union concern includes fish and crustaceans. The FHI have been asked to deal with seizures of non-native aquatic animals at points of entry to GB, as the Inspectorate already has that role in relation to aquatic animal health issues and non-native species under previous legislation, primarily the Import of Live Fish Act 1980. The FHI has established systems of work with colleagues in UK Border Force and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at Border Inspection Posts (BIP’s) and at ports of entry for aquatic animals illegally imported to GB.

4.1 Breakdown of investigations and enforcement activities

Activity	Number
Regulation notices	25
Advice and warning letters issued	5
Enforcement notice	1
Unannounced visits	46

5. Advice and representation

The European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) UK and Ireland branch 2018 conference hosted by the Marine Institute, Republic of Ireland took place in Galway in September. A Fish Health Inspector delivered a presentation titled ‘Connecting industry, science and government for the effective management of serious disease’. The Fish Health Inspectorate also participated in the British Trout Association (BTA) AGM and Conference held at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. The Cefas Weymouth laboratory hosted a visit by the newly appointed Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK, where a presentation on aquaculture in the UK and the work of the Fish Health Inspectorate was delivered. The CVO expressed an interest in visiting a fish farm which will be arranged by the FHI. Other visitors to the Cefas Weymouth laboratory included the Chief Operating Officer for Defra, the Defra Director for Wildlife, International, Climate and Forestry, and representatives of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) where they gained an appreciation of the scope of work undertaken by Cefas. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) undertakes similar work in the terrestrial animal, plant and bee health sectors to that delivered by the Fish Health Inspectorate on aquatic animal health. In order to ensure a consistent approach to communications during a notifiable disease outbreak, the FHI hosted a meeting with the Veterinary Exotic Notifiable Disease Unit, APHA where alignment of systems of work were considered. Subsequently the FHI were invited to a meeting of the APHA Central Vet Pool in Worcester where they delivered a joint presentation on the work of the FHI.

The biannual joint research and development liaison meeting between Cefas and the Environment Agency took place in August where the Head of the FHI gave an update on FHI activities in 2017.

The FHI provided data on aquatic animal health to the UK delegation to the 28th Conference of the OIE (Office International des Epizooties – the World Organisation for Animal Health) Regional Commission for Europe that took place in Tiblisi, Georgia in September. The FHI has continued to provide advice to industry both in the UK and abroad in relation to trade in aquatic animals including facilitating live fish export to El Salvador and establishing the conditions for trade in salmonids with the Israeli authorities.

The FHI has contributed on aquatic animal health to the cross-Agency Veterinary Risk Group (VRG) which provides advice to UK Government on threats and vulnerabilities to animal health.

6. Customer Surveys

The Fish Health Inspectorate want to provide all of our customers with excellent service. To check this, regular feedback is requested by using 3 different surveys:

• Customer Thermometer is a monthly customer feedback gathering online survey. The FHI use this to target customers visited by our inspectors during the preceding month. Feedback from customers is on a 1 to 4 scale (1: Bad / 4: Excellent) and allow operators to provide additional comments.

• A paper survey is sent to operators who don’t respond to the electronic survey or who don’t have email addresses. These surveys are undertaken in July and December.

• The FHI’s ATA team use an email survey method to get feedback on advice. This is added as an email signature and has four buttons: ranging from “Excellent” to “Bad”. Customers can also provide comments.

Negative feedback and complaints from any of these surveys is followed up on receipt, following the FHI’s Service Charter. Survey results form part of the key performance indicators and are presented at FHI and Cefas monthly management team meetings.

6.1 Customer Thermometer – July to September

Targeted	122
Response Rate	38%
Excellent	87%
Good	11%
Average	2%
Bad	0%

6.2 Email survey – July to September

Responses	56
Excellent	40
Good	15
Average	1
Bad	0

7. Service charter

Below is a breakdown of our performance against targets in our service charter.

Telephone enquiries received	636
Email enquiries	2,613
Movement document applications	145
Fishery and AAH registrations	138
Overall compliance rate within target	99%

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

8. Trade

8.1 Imports

The total number of aquatic trade consignments imported into England and Wales from other EU countries in the last quarter was 114. The breakdown is as follows:

Country	Number
Bulgaria	3
France	32
Germany	1
Greece	3
Guernsey	11
Jersey	32
Netherlands	14
Northern Ireland	7
Norway	6
Poland	3
Portugal	2

8.2 Exports

The total number of aquatic trade consignments exported from England and Wales to countries in the EU in the last quarter was 114. The breakdown is as follows:

Country	Number
Eire	72
England	1
Finland	1
France	11
Germany	7
Guernsey	5
Isle of Man	3
Jersey	6
Netherlands	5
Northern Ireland	2
Turkey	1