NI Disease Status

Northern Ireland has a high fish health status and is declared disease free for the non-exotic diseases Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA), and the shellfish disease Marteilia refringens. Northern Ireland is also free from the shellfish disease Bonamia ostreae with the exception of Lough Foyle and Strangford Lough.    

We also have disease free status for Spring viraemia of carp (SVC), Infection with Gyrodactylus salaris  (GS) and Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) – originally declared as additional guarantees under Commission Decision 2004/453/EC and now declared as disease free under Commission Decision 2010/221/EU.  

There is a surveillance programme underway with the aim of achieving disease freedom for Koi herpes virus (KHV) by early 2012.  Three ornamental facilities in Northern Ireland have already achieved disease free status in respect of KHV.  These are Glenkrag Ltd, Causeway Koi and Clearly Aquatics.  More details of these and disease status of other Aquaculture Production Businesses (APBs) can be found on the public register of APBs.

Northern Ireland has submitted a Programme of Early Detection in respect of OsHV1-µvar, see link below, which causes mortalities in Pacific oysters and is undertaking sampling and testing in accordance with Commission Regulation 175/2010.  The import of pacific oysters into Northern Ireland requires health certification and information on this or any other fish health issue can be obtained by emailing fish.health@dardni.gov.uk or by contacting the Fish Health Inspectorate on 028 9076 5820.