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Risk-based Fish Health Surveillance

The Marine Institute (MI) runs a risk-based surveillance scheme based on different frequencies of inspection depending on whether sites have been categorised as high, medium or low risk surveillance.  This programme is aimed at the detection of listed  and emerging diseases and is run in accordance with Council Directive 2006/88/EC.  

 

FINFISH Surveillance Programme

Category

Frequency of Inspection

High Surveillance
  • Annual visit by private services (Active Surveillance) and
  • Annual inspection by MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

Medium Surveillance
  • Annual visit alternating year-on-year between the private services (Active Surveillance) and the MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

Low Surveillance
  • Biennial inspection carried out by the MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

NOTES

  • "Active Surveillance” describes the process whereby a clinical inspection of the entire site is carried out and where moribund/ dead fish are sampled, should they be present..
  • “Compliance” refers to the process whereby the Competent Authority carries out an inspection to determine if the systems in place on the site (e.g. record keeping, notification, biosecurity etc) reflect those required from a site which has been issued with a Fish Health Authorisation
  • It should be noted that the inspection frequencies indicated above are in addition to those required as part of any surveillance programmes which may be approved under Article 44(1) of the Directive.  In the case of fin-fish an aditional surveillance programme was completed in 2013 in relation to Koi Herpes Virus where Ireland has now been declared disease free.   

 

SHELLFISH Surveillance Programme

Category

Frequency of Inspection

High Surveillance
  • Annual visit by MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

Medium Surveillance
  • Biennial inspection by MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

Low Surveillance
  • Four-yearly inspection by MI (Active Surveillance & Compliance)

 NOTES

  • Active Surveillance” describes the process whereby a clinical inspection of the entire site is carried out and where moribund/ dead fish are sampled, should they be present.
  • “Compliance” refers to the process whereby the Competent Authority carries out an inspection to determine if the systems in place on the site (e.g. record keeping, notification, biosecurity etc) reflect those required from a site which has been issued with a Fish Health Authorisation
  • It should be noted that the inspection frequencies indicated above are in addition to those required as part of any surveillance programmes which may be approved under Article 44(1) of the Directive.    In the case of molluscs this will involve testing native oysters in areas which are currently free of B.ostrea and  OsHV1-uvar.