We hear the word Biosecurity thrown around quite a lot and especially after the recent pandemic but what does the term mean to fisheries and fish farms? One simple definition of Biosecurity is “procedures or measures designed to protect the population against harmful biological or biochemical substances”. In real terms, it is the implementation of measures to prevent the transfer of parasites, bacteria or viral disease to our sites and fish stocks. Whilst the first thing that may spring to mind is disinfectants and net dips, a good biosecurity plan consists of far more than that and will help to minimise any risk of parasites and disease being transferred on or off the sites. As an authorised Aquaculture Production Business (APB) that is inspected by CEFAS every year, at VS Fisheries we create a Biosecurity Measure Plan that covers all aspects of the farm’s operation - from identifying the routes that disease might access the sites through, to preventative measures and how any such outbreak would be dealt with, should it happen. Added to this, a procedure to manage risk of disease transfer to or from fisheries when delivering to customers is also necessary. This is reviewed annually so that we regularly consider new risks and make dynamic changes in practices around the farm as required. As we approach harvest here and deliveries are being planned, one of the most important things we must complete is a series of fish health checks from our registered sites. This involves taking 30 carp of various predetermined size ranges, from each of our sites and submitting them to an independent EA approved fish health consultant for dissection. The consultant investigates every fish to confirm the sites are free from Category 2 parasite infections, as well as looking for visual evidence of any bacterial or viral infections and making comment on the general condition of those fish examined. Should just one of the listed parasites be found, or the potential of some form of disease be observed, then the fish would fail and we would not be allowed to deliver to our customers. Once completed, the results are sent to the EA national fish movement team and kept on record so that all our stockings can be cross referenced with the relevant health certificates. This health check is valid on the fish from each specific site for 6 months, assuming that no new fish are moved into the site during that time. As part of our authorisation from CEFAS we must also record every stocking of fish into any fishery site that we complete each winter written by and credited to: VS Fisheries. | 
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