INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 14 April 2008
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Publication of Gyrodactylus salaris contingency plan for England
Defra today published its contingency plan for dealing with an outbreak of the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs).
The plan forms part of a comprehensive package of plans covering all of the UK, which is intended to protect the country’s valuable salmon stocks from this potentially devastating disease.
In the event of identification of Gs in either farmed or wild freshwater fish stocks, the objective will be to contain and, if possible, eradicate the parasite.
Gs has never been found in the UK.
The plan is available to view online at: www.defra.gov.uk/fish/fishfarm/diseases.htm.
Further information
Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs) is a parasite that has the potential to cause widespread losses in wild Atlantic salmon. As such it is a listed notifiable disease.
Gs has proved devastating to Norwegian salmon stocks over a number of years and has wiped out salmon populations in infected river systems. Lessons from Norway have been fed into the contingency planning arrangements, in particular the need to quickly contain any outbreak, and attempt eradication at the earliest possible stage of an outbreak, where practicable.
In March 2004 UK re-negotiated robust additional fish health guarantees, with the EC, to safeguard against the introduction of Gs through trade in live fish. The guarantees permit movements of live fish of susceptible species only from areas considered to be free of the parasite.
The Gs parasite is less than half a millimetre long, multiplies rapidly and it would take only one individual to start an epidemic.
People who travel widely and have contact with salmon rivers and fish farms - anglers, fish farmers and fishery managers - can help reduce the risk of transporting the parasite by taking simple steps to dry and disinfect equipment when they move between countries and rivers.
More information on disinfecting angling equipment and a guide to protecting freshwater fish stocks from Gs is available from the Fish Health Inspectorate at Cefas, or can be found at www.efishbusiness.co.uk.
Anyone suspecting the presence of Gs should contact the Fish Health Inspectorate on 01305 206673/4.
End
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Page published: 14 April 2008