HC Deb 20 July 1933 vol 46 cc135-6W
Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has given any consideration to taking whirling disease off the notifiable diseases order; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

The proposal of the National Farmers' Union that whirling disease should cease to be a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Fish Act 1937 is being considered in a review of fish disease controls currently being undertaken by fisheries departments.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fish farms have now slaughtered, disinfected and restocked due to whirling disease; and if he will ascertain from the regional water authorities such information as they have as to the cost to each of these fish farmers.

Mr. MacGregor

I am not aware of any fish farms where all the fish have been slaughtered prior to disinfection as a result of whirling disease. However, I understand that on some three sites juvenile stock for which no outlets could be found have been slaughtered. Following the clearance of some or all of the fish, disinfection and restocking has taken place on seven sites.

It would not be appropriate for me or the water authorities to seek information on the costs incurred by individual fish farmers in the slaughter or clearance of fish and the disinfection or restocking of fish farms following whirling disease.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many restrictions of fish movements have been lifted since notification of whirling disease; to what extent movements so derestricted have been and are still being hampered by water authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

Movement restrictions imposed as result of whirling disease have subsequently been lifted from 10 sites. On three of these sites movement restrictions have been reimposed due to further outbreaks of notifiable diseases, including one where there has been reinfection with whirling disease.

I am not aware that movements of fish from any of the seven sites where movement restictions no longer remain have been hampered by the water authorities.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the National Farmers Union on whirling disease; if he will list the points they make and the replies he has given; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

On 1 February 1983 the National Farmers Union suggested that movement restrictions in respect of whirling disease should be maintained only if the disease was resulting in mortalities or the stunting and twisting of fry and that such restrictions should be maintained only so long as there were visual symptoms.

On 23 June it submitted a paper on future fish disease policy which suggested that there was no longer any justification for keeping whirling disease on the list of notifiable diseases. The NFU indicated a willingness to enter into discussions with a view to drawing up a code of practice designed to eliminate whirling disease from fish farms supplying fry and fingerlings.

My officials have informed the National Farmers Union that these points are being considered in the current review of fish diseases being undertaken by fisheries departments.

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