This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Infectious Salmon Anaemia
06/01/2004
A new report shows continuing high levels of compliance
by the Scottish salmon farming industry in combating the
spread of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA).
The Third Annual Survey Report on Compliance with the
Code of Practice to Avoid and Minimise the Impact of
Infectious Salmon Anaemia was published today.
The report covers the period 1 October 2002 to 30
September 2003. It shows continued general improvement in
compliance, in line with the trend since the Code was
introduced in September 2000.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Allan Wilson said:
"The Executive's Partnership Agreement makes clear that
we are committed to supporting an aquaculture industry that
is sustainable, diverse and competitive. That includes
Scotland's salmon farming industry.
"With the outbreak of ISA thankfully well behind us
there must be on-going conscientious attention to
biosecurity. I recognise the Industry's achievements in
complying with the ISA Code of Practice.
"Good progress has been made in the past year but there
is certainly no room for relaxation of effort. Compliance
with the provisions of the Code is crucial to maintaining
the high health status of our aquaculture industry."
The report's main findings:
• Compliance was greater than 90 per cent for the
majority of the criteria surveyed, 8 being 99 per cent or
100 per cent.
• Smolt producers achieved 100 per cent compliance in
not using seawater in the freshwater production cycle,
disinfection of eggs, using separate water supplies for
juvenile and brood fish and having predator control
measures in place.
• Sea water on-growers achieved high compliance in
blood containment in transit, not moving fish between
Management Areas, predator control measure provision and
net inspection.
• The industry needs to achieve greater compliance
with its Code of Practice in other areas such as single
source stocking, on-farm ensiling of mortalities and
provision of site-specific equipment and clothing.
The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD) will shortly be writing to all salmon
industry trade associations and companies on how best to
achieve full compliance with the Code.
The Industry ISA Code of Practice was published in
August 2000, recommending best practice to minimise the
spread of disease within the Scottish fish farming
industry. Copies are available free of charge from The
Crown Estate, 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DR.
(ISBN 0 9532838 6 0)
The Code was produced by the industry, based on the
Final Report of the Joint Government/Industry Working Group
on Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) January 2000. This is
available on the Fisheries Research Services Marine
Laboratory Aberdeen web site.
www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
The Fisheries Research Services monitoring report will
also be available on the FRS website
www.frs-scotland.gov.uk
and can be obtained from The Library, Fisheries Research
Services, PO Box 101 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB.
ISA is a highly infectious, potentially fatal disease of
salmon in seawater. The last confirmed case of ISA was in
May 1999 and the last suspect case in November 1999.