Fish Health Inspections
Anyone operating an aquaculture production business in Northern Ireland is required to be authorised by the Department under the Aquatic Animal Health Regulations (NI) 2009. The authorisation may include such conditions as the Department considers appropriate.
We have a statutory obligation to undertake a regular inspection and sampling programme of all fish farms in line with EC Directive 2006/88/EEC for the purposes of obtaining or maintaining Disease Free Status. We normally inspect each aquaculture production business twice a year and take samples of fish for laboratory analysis in line with Commission Decision 2001/183/EC (fish) and Commission Decision 2002/308/EC, as amended, (molluscs).
An authorisation will normally require the licence holder to ensure the aquaculture production business is open for inspection to an officer of the Department at all reasonable times and to provide us with such samples of fish as are required, free of charge.
When undertaking a an inspection of an aquaculture production business the Fisheries Inspectorate will seek to:
- monitor the fish stocks on the farm for fish health purposes
- ensure compliance with authorisation conditions
- ensure good fish husbandry and welfare practices are in operation at the farm
- ensure effective bio-security measures are in place on the farm
- ensure compliance with regulations governing the disposal of fish waste
- inspect records held in the fish record book
- verify information on fish movements provided to the Division
It is an offence to operate a fish farm without a fish culture licence or in contravention of the conditions of a fish culture licence. Fish culture licence conditions are enforced by the Division's Fisheries Inspectorate.
Please note that discharge consents are monitored by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
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