§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his Department has made in identifying the virus in UDN salmon disease.
§ Mr. BishopDespite considerable research over a number of years by my352W Department and at centres in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe, the precise cause of UDN remains unknown. Evidence of a viral infection has not been confirmed. Other lines in inquiry are also being pursued by my Department's Fish Diseases Laboratory, Weymouth.
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department can take to deal with the recent serious outbreaks of UDN salmon disease in West Country rivers and, in particular, the River Dart in Devon.
§ Mr. BishopMy Department is continuing its investigations, in conjunction with the South-West Water Authority, following the recent reports of fungally infected fish in West Country rivers. The fungus is generally regarded as a secondary infection and such fish are not necessarily suffering from UDN. So far UDN has not been confirmed. If the disease is diagnosed action will be taken to restrict the movement of live salmon and brown trout for re-stocking other waters. Nothing can be done to cure wild fish of the disease or to prevent it running its course in the wild population.