INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 15 February 2008
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Confirmation of oyster parasite in north Kent
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today issued a Notice under the Fish Health Regulations, 1997, controlling the movement of molluscan shellfish from the north Kent coast, following confirmation of the presence of the parasite Bonamia ostreae in a bed of native oysters.
Fish health inspectors from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Weymouth, Dorset, have confirmed that Bonamia ostreae was present in native oyster samples taken from Whitstable Bay.
The area subject to movement controls has been selected to ensure maximum protection against further spread of the disease. Bonamia ostreae causes the serious disease Bonamiosis in native oyster stocks, but does not have any clinical effect on any other species of shellfish. Cefas will be monitoring the extent and effect of the disease in the controlled area.
It is not expected that the controls will interfere with current commercial activity. Bonamiosis has no implications for human health, and native oysters from this area can still be eaten.
There is a legal duty to notify the presence of the disease, and it is imperative that any suspicion of the disease should be immediately reported to Cefas. Sudden, unusually high mortality, in native oyster stock would indicate that the disease might be present.
It is not known how or when the disease was introduced to this area. If anyone has any information that may help to answer these questions they should contact the Fish Health Inspectorate: telephone 01305 206711 / 206673 or email fish.health.inspectorate@cefas.co.uk. Such contact will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Notes to editors
1. Molluscan shellfish include oysters, clams, mussels and scallops.
2. The Notice, issued under Regulation 14 of the Fish Health Regulations 1997 (as amended), restricts the movement of any live molluscan shellfish out of the specified area, for the purposes of relaying or re-immersion in the aquatic environment, without the prior written consent of Defra.
3. The specified area is the area of water comprising tidal waters (whether forming part of the sea or not) within the seaward limits of the territorial waters adjacent to Great Britain which lie between or within, as the case may be, the limits specified as:
- A line drawn due east from the landward end of Barge Pier, Shoeburyness at TQ 931 839, and
- A line drawn due east from the North Foreland Lighthouse at TR 398 692 (see map).
4. Bonamia ostreae is widespread in native oysters in continental Europe. It also occurs in some oyster growing areas in England. Controls have prevented further spread of the disease in England since 1993 until now.
5. Scientific advice and practical experience indicate that it is not possible to eradicate the disease organism, Bonamia ostreae, once it has been found in an area. Thus, the controls are likely to remain in effect until such time as they are incorporated into UK legislation.
6. The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), based at Cefas’ Weymouth laboratory, is dedicated to maintaining and improving fish and shellfish health in England and Wales. Its primary role is to act for Defra and the National Assembly for Wales, Agriculture Department (NAWAD) in undertaking statutory and inspection duties resulting from the EU Fish Health regime and other national legislation in the area of fish and shellfish health. For more about the FHI visit www.cefas.co.uk/fish-health-inspectorate.aspx.
End
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Page published: 15 February 2008 18:15