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Fish disease identified on Shetland fish farm
27/08/1998
The fish disease, Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA), has been confirmed on a farm in St Magnus Bay, Shetland bringing the total number of Scottish farms infected by the disease to nine. Another farm in the same area is suspected of being infected. This is the first occasion the disease has been identified in Shetland.
The infected farm has been issued with a statutory Notice requiring the immediate slaughter of all fish on the site. Thereafter it will require to be disinfected and fallowed for a period.
The suspect site will be placed under movement restrictions and close observation.
An official surveillance area will be established around the affected sites and fish and shellfish farms in that area will be subject to movement restrictions and regular inspection.
Lord Sewel, Scottish Fisheries Minister commented:
"Evidence is to hand which suggests a possible link, involving wellboats, between the confirmed Shetland site and one of those already identified as infected on the west coast. In these circumstances this latest outbreak may not be altogether surprising but it is certainly very disappointing.
"One of the major problems is that we are dealing with a virus which incubates for several months before expressing symptoms. Inevitably this creates difficulties for managing the disease.
"Rigorous controls have been put in place. These will continue and I expect to announce shortly further restrictions on wellboats, equipment and personnel.
"In the meantime I urge salmon farmers to continue to co operate fully with my Department."
Two other salmon farms off the Isle of Mull have also been placed under official suspicion. This brings the total number of fish farms suspected of being infected to twelve.
BACKGROUND
1. ISA is a disease of salmon in seawater. It is notifiable under the Diseases of Fish Act 1937 and is classified as a List I disease under the EC Fish Health regime which requires eradication action when an outbreak is confirmed.
2. Until now eight sites have been declared infected and a further nine suspected of being infected.
3. ISA has previously been identified in Norway and Canada where it is controlled, but this is the first outbreak in the European Community.
4. The disease poses no threat to human health.
5. Investigations into the original source of infection are well underway and The Scottish Office hopes to make more information available around the end of September.
6. As a precautionary measure, shellfish farms in the infected areas have also been placed under temporary movement restrictions.
News Release: 1706/98
27 August 1998