§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fish farms are still affected by whirling disease and in which areas of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the progress made toward the elimination of this disease.
§ Mr. MacGregorThere are at present 44 fish farms in England and Wales on which there are grounds for believing that the causative agent of whirling disease, (Myxosoma cerebralis), may be found. However, there may be other sites on which Myosoma cerebralis is also present at sub-clinical levels and has not been identified.
The known 44 sites are 42 of the 43 sites in England and Wales which I listed in my reply to the right hon. Member of 26 March 1984, at column 24, (excluding Mill Leat trout farm in Devon, where sufficient measures have been taken to eradicate the disease) and two additional sites in Clwyd, Wales and north Yorkshire.
My fish disease scientists are currently monitoring the occurrence of whirling disease in accordance with the 100W policies announced in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) on 27 February 1984, at column 2.