Transporting fish

What are my responsibilities when transporting fish?

The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006 requires you to take certain measures to protect the welfare of fish during transportation. It is your responsibility to ensure that whoever is transporting the fish (whether it be you, a courier, or a third party) complies with these regulations.

The Aquatic Animal Health (England & Wales) Regulations 2009 also states what needs to be done when transporting fish. This includes disease prevention requirements and the documentation needed when transporting fish.

What do I need?

Under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006, an Animal Transport Certificate must be completed for every journey where live fish are transported. This must be done by the person transporting the fish.

For journeys of 65 kilometres (40 miles) or more, the transporter will also need to be authorised by a representative of Defra, or the Welsh Assembly Government. For more details please refer to the Welfare of Animals During Transport Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the Defra website.

The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 also requires the transporter to keep a record of information, including:

• the number of fish that die during transportation
• all authorised or registered sites (farms, fisheries) visited during transportation
• all exchanges of water made during the journey, including the source of the water and where it is discharged

Transport log books, for keeping a record of this information, are available from the Fish Health Inspectorate on 01305 206700.

How do I transport my fish?

It is best to transport fish in purpose-built tanks, in water from the site and with adequate aeration. If this is not possible, then the fish can be transported in plastic leak proof bags. More information on transporting fish in bags can be found in the Bagging and transporting live fish for health checks fact sheet.

What biosecurity measures do I need to consider when transporting my fish?

When moving fish, it is important that the transportation method does not increase the risk of disease spread. To do this, you need to consider the following factors:

• The source of the transport water – Water can contain fish pathogens (organisms that cause disease). To prevent the spread of disease, the water used to transport fish must either be from the same source as the fish, or from a safe source, such as a borehole supply. The transport water should not be emptied into a receiving fishery, unless it is from a safe source.
• What equipment should be disinfected - Vehicles, tanks and any equipment that will be in contact with the fish (or the water that they are in) must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use. Additionally, if multiple sites are to be visited, the vehicle and nets must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between sites.
• How should the equipment be disinfected - There are a number of commercially available disinfectants that can be used on fish transport equipment. All equipment to be disinfected must first be thoroughly cleaned of dirt, otherwise the disinfectant will not work. Before you use a disinfectant, you must also read the manufacturer’s guidelines. This ensures that the disinfectant is used and disposed of correctly, and that you are aware of any health and safety advice.