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Why is good fish health important?
Good fish health is a prerequisite for ensuring a profitable aquaculture industry and good quality products. Good fish health, documented by the absence of serious infectious diseases, is a precondition for Norwegian market access and for the export of aquaculture products.
Diseases found in salmon and marine coldwater species farmed under Norwegian conditions cannot be transmitted to humans. They are exclusively fish diseases and have no impact on the health of consumers of seafood or those involved in the processing of seafood products.
How do fish diseases occur?
Since fish-farming is a relatively new form of animal husbandry, new diseases will be found in fish. The diseases we are talking about are those that naturally exist in wild populations of fish along our coastline and in our sea areas, and which first find expression in connection with fish-farming. The diseases establish themselves in populations of farmed fish and can have major economic consequences. These diseases include fish diseases in general, but in particularly infectious diseases. Combating these diseases represents a major challenge. The transmission of infections between farmed fish and wild fish has prompted a great deal of scientific interest. Wild fish and farmed fish can have a negative effect on each other. Much is yet to explore with regard to the secrets the reservoir of infectious matter in wild fish have to offer. In Norway, we have also imported infectious fish diseases along with live fish from other countries.
Strategies for combating diseases in fish
Under the terms of the new Food Act, a separate set of instruments has been established with regard to infectious fish diseases beyond vaccination and antibacterial treatment. The rules and regulations are new and have been harmonized with EU legislation. These include monitoring, control and combating relevant diseases by means of measures such as tie-ups, slaughtering, fallowing etc. of the locality as well as restrictions in respect of transport and the sale of fish and organic material etc. One important instrument in this context is the use of national monitoring programmes. The purpose of the existing monitoring programmes is to document absence of exotic and serious diseases that we do not have. This includes the infectious salmon diseases IHN and VHS as well as bonamiosis and martelliosis. Conversely, it is also highly important to gain an overview of all diseases found at any given time. A general, national monitoring and reporting programme for all fish diseases is currently being developed. The overviews one gains from this programme may form the basis for targeted public initiatives with regard to diseases found in farmed fish.
The objective of the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs is that aquaculture and the catching of fish shall take place in an ethically acceptable and sound manner. Report no. 65 to the Storting (2002–2003) On animal husbandry and animal welfare is a foundation document in this respect. Norway is a leader within research regarding behavioural and preference studies of fish as well as neurobiological basic research in this context. A new and modern set of rules and regulations is being developed with a basis in ethical assumptions and scientific data. New provisions have already been laid down in respect of welfare and storage and transport of fish. One important instrument in respect of the work on welfare and farming of fish is to develop and test practical welfare indicators. This work will be given priority in the future.
From:http://www.fisheries.no/aquaculture/health_welfare/Aquaculture_health_welfare/