Fish Health Inspectors (FHI) from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have reported to the authorities two men for attempting to illegally import sturgeon into the UK without the required fish health certification.

Ten boxes containing more than 140 Diamond sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) were seized on Monday, 11 June, as a result of a surveillance operation. The men were observed unloading the boxes from a delivery vehicle to a waiting van at a car park near Ashford, Kent.

The fish were 7–22g in weight and between 11 and 18cm in length. They were taken to Cefas’ laboratory in Weymouth, Dorset, to be photographed and measured as evidence. The fish were subsequently humanely slaughtered.

It is believed that the fish originally came from a fish farm in the Czech Republic and were transported from the Continent via the Channel Tunnel.

A FHI enforcement officer commented: “Many responsible fish farmers follow the rules for the legal importation of non-native fish to the UK. Although fish smuggling has been significantly reduced in recent years, there is still a very small minority of individuals who are prepared to take risks.”

This is the latest in a series of successful interceptions of live fish in recent years. The men have been reported to the authorities for not having the necessary health certification for importing live fish into the UK.

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