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.
