The Marine Institute implements a fish health monitoring programme which tests for diseases listed under Directive 2006/88/EC and other aquatic diseases of national importance.
A summary of listed and notifiable diseases, their susceptible and vector species, and Ireland's current health status in relation to each disease can be downloaded here (.pdf 182KB).
Diseases listed under Directive 2006/88/EC
Exotic diseases are those which are not currently found within the EU and must be eradicated. Non-exotic diseases are generally confined to certain parts of the Community, whilst other areas remain free. The approach to the eradication of non-exotic diseases, should they appear in Ireland, will be decided by the Competent Authority, on a case-by-case basis.
| Exotic Diseases | Fish | Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis |
| Molluscs | Bonamia exitiosa | |
| Perkinsus marinus | ||
| Mikrocytos mackini | ||
| Crustaceans | Taura Syndrome | |
| Yellowhead Disease | ||
| Non-exotic Diseases | Fish | Koi Herpesvirus |
| Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia | ||
| Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis | ||
| Infectious Salmon Anaemia | ||
| Molluscs | Marteilia refringens | |
| Bonamia ostreae | ||
| Crustaceans | White Spot Disease |
In addition to the exotic diseases listed above, Ireland is free of the following diseases for which we have National Measures under Article 43 of Directive 2006/88/EC:
Gyrodactylus salaris (PDF, 256Kb)
Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC) (PDF, 28Kb)
Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) (PDF, 28Kb)
Oyster Herpes Virus - (OsHV1-uvar)
Other Diseases
Apart from the diseases listed under EU legislation, the Fish Health Unit also routinely tests for other diseases which are of economic importance in Ireland. These include: finfish diseases such as Pancreas Disease (PD) (PDF, 1015Kb), Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) (PDF, 28Kb), Furunculosis (PDF, 1050Kb), Enteric Redmouth and Vibriosis; and shellfish diseases such as Brown Ring Disease and Withering Syndrome. The control of these diseases is on a non-statutory basis.