Guidance

Prevent fish or shellfish diseases

Reduce the risk of disease, find out where notifiable diseases have been found and what to do if your fish or shellfish have a disease.

Published 16 May 2014
Last updated 18 March 2019 — see all updates

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and Environment Agency

• Applies to: England and Wales

Each year thousands of fish and shellfish die from disease. Recovering from an outbreak can take a long time and can be very expensive.

Serious fish and shellfish diseases

You must tell the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) if fish or shellfish:

• could be infected with a serious or notifiable disease
• are dying in larger numbers or dying in a way you haven’t seen before

Prevent the spread of disease in fish and shellfish

You can help control the spread of disease if you:

• follow rules for imports
• perform regular monitoring to spot disease early
• contain outbreaks as quickly as possible
• use good fish husbandry practice
• follow rules when moving fish

• keep health records using the Finfish biosecurity logbook (PDF, 123KB, 7 pages)

• keep medicine records using the Aquatic animal medicine record book (PDF, 254KB, 52 pages)

• follow a biosecurity measures plan:

  • Shellfish biosecurity measures plan (PDF, 500KB, 28 pages)

  • Finfish biosecurity measures plan (PDF, 313KB, 21 pages)

  • Importer biosecurity measures plan (PDF, 244KB, 36 pages)

Control areas for notifiable disease outbreaks

If a notifiable disease is found, FHI puts controls in place to limit the spread of disease (these areas are known as confirmed designations).

If your fish or shellfish are in a control area you must:

• comply with any conditions issued by FHI
• get written permission from FHI to move fish or equipment (allow at least 5 working days)

Fish

Maps of areas with controls in place to limit the spread of spring viraemia of carp (SVC):

2017

• Warwickshire: Arden Lakes (PDF, 668KB, 3 pages)

Maps of areas with controls in place to limit the spread of koi herpesvirus disease (KHV):

2019

• Gatwick Koi - The Forge, West Sussex - 8 Jan (MS Word Document, 56.2KB)

• Koi Water Garden, Oxfordshire - 14 Jan 19 (PDF, 170KB, 2 pages)

2018

• Church Lane Lake, Essex - 6 July (PDF, 416KB, 3 pages)

• Newstead and Annesley Country Park, Nottingham - 6 July (PDF, 422KB, 3 pages)

• Parkers Fishery Pools, West Midland - 6 July (PDF, 392KB, 3 pages)

• Mawgan Porth Pools and Lake, Cornwall - 9 July (MS Word Document, 388KB)

• Mill Farm Fishery, Hereford - 13 July (PDF, 403KB, 3 pages)

• Holme Grange Fishery, Berkshire - 19 July (PDF, 402KB, 3 pages)

• Clear Water Fisheries, Lancashire - 24 July (PDF, 632KB, 3 pages)

• Trench Pool, Shropshire - 24 July (PDF, 746KB, 3 pages)

• Old Hough Fishery, Cheshire - 25 July (PDF, 384KB, 3 pages)

• Woodside Fishery, Hereford & Worcester - 31 July (PDF, 355KB, 3 pages)

• Coopers Arms, Derby - 1 August (PDF, 443KB, 3 pages)

• K Lakes, Skegness - 2 August (PDF, 368KB, 3 pages)

• Martham Pits, Norfolk - 3 August (PDF, 484KB, 3 pages)

• Ashland Lakes, Buckinghamshire - 7 August (PDF, 648KB, 4 pages)

• Shadwell Pool, Greater London - 8 August (PDF, 707KB, 4 pages)

• Locklands Lake, Lincoln - 9 August (PDF, 451KB, 4 pages)

• Acton Park Lake, Wrexham - 13 August (PDF, 499KB, 4 pages)

• Canvey Lake, Essex - 14 August (PDF, 834KB, 3 pages)

• Stoneham Lakes, Hampshire - 17 August (PDF, 449KB, 3 pages)

• Lakewood Fisheries, Scunthorpe - 29 August (PDF, 374KB, 3 pages)

• Middle Pool, Shropshire - 18 September (PDF, 674KB, 4 pages)

• Kippax Park, Leeds - 26 September (PDF, 456KB, 3 pages)

• Gatton Waters, Norfolk - 28 September (PDF, 375KB, 3 pages)

• Watmore Farm Fishery, Hampshire - 2 October (PDF, 556KB, 3 pages)

• Orchard Lakes, Hampshire - 3 October (PDF, 478KB, 3 pages)

• Broadlands Lake Complex, Hampshire - 5 October (PDF, 375KB, 3 pages)

2017

• Lancashire: Bannister House Fishery (PDF, 764KB, 3 pages)

• Northamptonshire: Boating Lake (PDF, 1MB, 3 pages)

Shellfish

You can use an interactive map (Desktop. Mobile) to view shellfish disease controls across Great Britain.

Alternatively below are individual maps of control areas of each disease:

Bonamia ostreae

• Anglesey and Caernarfonshire (PDF, 1.13MB, 3 pages)

• Cornwall and Devon (PDF, 1020KB, 3 pages)

• Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex (PDF, 1.16MB, 3 pages)

• Kent and Essex (PDF, 1.46MB, 3 pages)

• Pembrokeshire (PDF, 1.01MB, 3 pages)

Oyster herpesvirus

• Essex and Kent (PDF, 613KB, 3 pages)

• Poole Harbour Dorset (PDF, 4.09MB, 3 pages)

• River Teign, Devon (PDF, 1.99MB, 3 pages)

Marteilia refringens

• River Tamar, Cornwall and Devon (PDF, 385KB, 4 pages)

Contacts

Fish Health Inspectorate

Email fhi@cefas.co.uk

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 01305 206700

Environment Agency

PO Box 544


Rotherham
Yorkshire
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm 0370 8506 506

From outside the UK +44 1709 389 201

Published 16 May 2014
Last updated 18 March 2019 + show all updates

1. 18 March 2019 A newer revised document is now available
2. 23 January 2019 Removed controls lifted.
3. 14 January 2019 Update list with new outbreak.
4. 10 January 2019 list updated with missed outbreak from 2016 that is still inplace.
5. 8 January 2019 Included the list for a new outbreak for 2019.
6. 5 October 2018 List updated
7. 3 October 2018 New outbreak to include in the list.
8. 2 October 2018 List updated
9. 28 September 2018 List is updated with a new outbreak
10. 26 September 2018 New outbreak
11. 18 September 2018 List updated with a new outbreak
12. 29 August 2018 List updated with a new outbreak
13. 17 August 2018 List updated with a new confrimed outbreak
14. 14 August 2018 List updated with a new confrimed outbreak
15. 14 August 2018 Updated the list with a new outbreak
16. 13 August 2018 List updated
17. 9 August 2018 The list has been updated with a new outbreak
18. 8 August 2018 List updated with a new CD
19. 8 August 2018 Listed updated with a new putbreak confirmed
20. 3 August 2018 List updated with new confirmed outbreaks of KHV
21. 2 August 2018 List updated with confrimed outbreak of KHV
22. 1 August 2018 List updated with a new outbreak
23. 31 July 2018 Updated the list with a new updated outbreak
24. 25 July 2018 Updated document
25. 25 July 2018 List updated with new outbreak for 2018
26. 24 July 2018 List for new outbreaks updated
27. 20 July 2018 Removed Swallows
28. 19 July 2018 New outbreak to add to the list
29. 19 July 2018 Updated the outbreak list.
30. 13 July 2018 Updated the list of new outbreaks for 2018
31. 10 July 2018 CD04 included to the list of outbreaks for 2018
32. 6 July 2018 Three new KHV outbreak attachments added for 2018
33. 31 January 2018 Confrimed Designations from 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and some of the sites in 2016. They list has been removed from this page and has been moved to the press release page 'Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus disease' and added to the list of finished outbreaks. And the CD for Manderson Trust Lakes from 2017 attachment has been included.
34. 9 November 2017 Added Cleverley Mare, Essex
35. 13 October 2017 Added Boating Lake, Northamptonshire
36. 30 September 2017 Added White Shots Reservoir, Essex and The Cunneries, Lancashire
37. 28 September 2017 Added Hampstead Heath Ponds, London
38. 25 September 2017 Added Lea Farm Lakes, Berkshire
39. 15 September 2017 Removed The Jungle, Derbyshire
40. 8 September 2017 Added Windsor View Lakes, Berkshire
41. 7 September 2017 Added Danson Park, Kent; The Jungle, Derbyshire and Frogmore Fishery, Hertfordshire
42. 16 August 2017 Added Cleveley Bridge Fishery Complex, Lancashire
43. 15 August 2017 Added Sam Hosticks Fisheries, East Yorkshire
44. 12 August 2017 Added Willows Farm Fishery, Hertfordshire Removed Porton Ventures, Wiltshire
45. 10 August 2017 Added Tyersal Hall Fishery, West Yorkshire
46. 9 August 2017 Added Newlake, Humberside
47. 5 August 2017 Added Bannister House Fishery, Lancashire
48. 4 August 2017 Added Porton Ventures UK Ltd
49. 3 August 2017 Added Meadows Fishery and Manor Park Fishery, Staffordshire
50. 28 July 2017 Added Mansfield Lake, Kent
51. 26 July 2017 Added designation notice for Risbey Park Fisheries, Beverley
52. 25 July 2017 Added The Lakeside, Surrey
53. 20 July 2017 Added East Sussed: Swanborough Fishing Lake
54. 27 April 2017 Added details for SVC at Arden Lakes, Warwickshire
55. 9 December 2016 Removed confirmed designations for: Gorsty Hall Fishing Lakes (Cheshire), Coopers Arms Lake and Weston Moat Fishery (Derbyshire), Frant Lakes (East Sussex), Morehall Fishery (South Yorkshire), Tin Mill Dam (South Yorkshire), Henstead Fishing Lakes (Suffolk), Crossways Business Park (Kent), Barford Lakes (Norfolk), and Willinghurst Fisheries (Surrey).
56. 18 November 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Lodge Farm Fisheries, South Yorkshire.
57. 4 November 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Curborough Fishery, Staffordshire
58. 29 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Coppice Lane Pools, Staffordshire
59. 28 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for The Hunstrete Fishery, Avon
60. 27 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Knightsland Farm Lake, Essex
61. 25 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Melton Ponds, Norfolk
62. 20 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Ash Grove Lake, Derbyshire
63. 12 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Kiverton Farm Fisheries, South Yorkshire
64. 11 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Five House Farm Reservoir, Hertfordshire
65. 11 October 2016 Added a revised oyster herpesvirus confirmed designation which covers Kent and Essex.
66. 7 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Thorpe Lea Fishery, Surrey
67. 5 October 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Fields Farm Fishery, Cheshire
68. 30 September 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Portland Fishing Lakes, Nottinghamshire
69. 22 September 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Jacobs Water, Nottinghamshire
70. 21 September 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Bells Mill Fisheries, West Midlands
71. 19 September 2016 Added designation for Manea Pit, Cambridgeshire
72. 16 September 2016 Added confirmation note for Frisby Water Park, Leicestershire
73. 15 September 2016 Added designation note for Packington Somers Fishery
74. 9 September 2016 Added the confirmation for Cromwell Lake, Cambridgeshire
75. 6 September 2016 Added confirmation details for Ferens Lake, East Yorkshire
76. 2 September 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designations for Mallory Park Fishery, Leicestershire, and Hayfield Fishery, South Yorkshire
77. 19 August 2016 Added KHV confirmed designation for Heron Pond, Nottinghamshire
78. 18 August 2016 Added KHV confirmed designation for Corner House Farm Lake, Staffordshire
79. 16 August 2016 Updated all confirmed designations for Oyster herpesvirus and Bonamia ostreae with a new condition.
80. 9 August 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Fleetwood Reservoir, Lancashire
81. 4 August 2016 Add KHV disease confirmed designations for Aston Park, South Yorkshire, and The Barns, Cornwall
82. 2 August 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Albert Park Lake, North Yorkshire
83. 29 July 2016 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Bierley Woods Waters, West Yorkshire
84. 22 July 2016 Added KHV confirmed designation for The Glebe Lakes, Leicestershire
85. 18 July 2016 Removed KHV confirmed designation for Maidenhead Aquatics, Greater London
86. 14 July 2016 Added KHV confirmed designations for Greater London and Lincolnshire
87. 8 July 2016 CD03/2016 added
88. 7 July 2016 CD02/2016
89. 7 July 2016 CD01/2016 - site no longer under any official disease controls
90. 24 June 2016 New KHV confirmed designation: Shuttleworth College Fish Farm, Bedfordshire
91. 4 January 2016 Confirmed designations for KHV removed on Whitevane Pond, Jeagor Farm, Boat Shed Pool, Ferens Lake, Brocket Hall, Noak Hill Fishery, and The Duckery
92. 24 November 2015 Added confirmed designation for Oyster herpesvirus at River Teign, Devon
93. 26 October 2015 Revised Bonamia ostreae confirmed designations
94. 15 October 2015 Added extension to Oyster Herpesvirus Confirmed Designation in Kent
95. 8 October 2015 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Ellis Lake Fishery, Essex. Added conditions to the confirmed designation for Marteilia.
96. 28 September 2015 Added KHV disease confirmed designations for Lake Ross, Woodlands Fishery, and Bourne Farm Pond in Lincolnshire
97. 16 September 2015 Added KHV disease confirmed designation for Thornborough Pond, Northumberland
98. 3 September 2015 Added KHV confirmed designation for Washing Pool, Worcestershire
99. 1 September 2015 Amended Oyster herpesvirus confirmed designation in Kent
100. 24 August 2015 Added KHV confirmed designation for Railway Lakes, Cambridgeshire
101. 13 August 2015 New KHV outbreak confirmed in West Yorkshire
102. 13 August 2015 Ruddy Pond Lakes confirmed designation added.
103. 7 August 2015 Added KHV designation for Morgans & Woodstock Ponds, Gwent
104. 6 August 2015 Added confirmed designation for KHV at Bankend Fisheries, South Yorkshire
105. 29 July 2015 Updated Oyster Herpesvirus confirmed designations for Poole Harbour, Dorset, and Whitstable Bay, Kent
106. 22 July 2015 Removed River Crouch, Blackwater and Colne confirmed designation and replaced it with a single designation which also includes the River Roach.
107. 9 April 2015 Removed KHV confirmed designations for Burton Farm Fisheries, Church Pond, Kingsdown Road Flash and Canvey Lake
108. 8 December 2014 Removed confirmed designation for Abbey Waters, Norfolk
109. 2 December 2014 Removed confirmed designations for Bradshaw Hall, Risby Park, Cuckoo Mere and Bee Fold Fishery.
110. 1 December 2014 Removed confirmed designation for Aldercar Lane Fishery Lakes, Nottinghamshire, and Alcott Farm Fishery, Worcestershire
111. 27 October 2014 Added new confirmed designation for KHV in Staffordshire
112. 2 October 2014 Added confirmed designation for KHV in Wiltshire
113. 18 September 2014 Added Wellow Dam KHV confirmed designation
114. 3 September 2014 Updated Trinity Waters confirmed designation
115. 2 September 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
116. 1 September 2014 Added two KHV confirmed designations for Essex
117. 28 August 2014 Confirmed Designation added for Haddon Lakes, Cambridgeshire.
118. 20 August 2014 New 'notice of confirmed designation' inserted under the Shellfish/Oyster Herpesvirus heading for the River Crouch.
119. 15 August 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
120. 12 August 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
121. 11 August 2014 Added 3 KHV confirmed designations
122. 7 August 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
123. 6 August 2014 Added confirmed designation for KHV
124. 1 August 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
125. 30 July 2014 Added KHV confirmed designation
126. 25 July 2014 Added Bonehill Mill Fishery Confirmed KHV Designation
127. 11 July 2014 Confirmed designation added
128. 10 July 2014 Added confirmed designation notice and map
129. 16 May 2014 First published.