MINISTER LAUNCHES NEW LIVE FISH MOVEMENTS DATABASE

Fisheries Minister Elliot Morley visited the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in Weymouth on 14^th November to launch the new state-of-the-art Live Fish Movements Database. This award-winning system was the brain child of Eric Hudson, head of the CEFAS Fish Health Inspectorate. It has been developed jointly by CEFAS, the Environment Agency, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department with funding from the government’s Invest to Save Budget.

The database allows officials from each agency to view each other’s records and provides a facility to monitor and regulate all live fish movements. It will assist in the process of identifying illegal movements, including illegal imports. 

It incorporates an impressive mapping system which can highlight all fish farms, fisheries and opens rivers and waters across England andWales. In the event of a major outbreak of fish disease this facility would be extremely useful in tracking the disease and in identifying vulnerable areas and premises. Records held on the database by CEFAS and the Environment Agency would enable the authorities to respond quickly and effectively if such an outbreak were to occur.

The Minister praised the work of the CEFAS Fish Health Inspectorate and the Environment Agency in bringing the new system into being. He also sought to draw public attention to the ongoing problem of illegal imports of live fish which has the potential to cause immense damage to our indigenous fish stocks, and have a damaging  impact on the environment and the ecology of our waters. Mr. Morley emphasised the high health status of the UK’s fish stocks and added that every effort must be made to protect our fish against diseases that are common on the continent. He felt that the introduction of the new database would be an effective way of combating this trade and dealing with all other aspects of illegal movements of fish.

The theme for the day was ‘Protecting wild fish and the environment – facilitating legal movements of fish through joint action.’

To emphasis this spirit of co-operation presentations were made by Richard Cowan who heads DEFRA’s Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Department in London, Dr David Clarke who is the head of the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Department and Mr Eric Hudson who is in charge of the CEFAS Fish Health Inspectorate. CEFAS’s Chief Executive Dr Peter Greig-Smith welcomed the Minister, the press and representatives of other government agencies from NorthernIreland, Wales and Scotland and he too emphasised the value of the new system

The linked document provides further information

CEFAS invites any person with information on illegal imports to contact them in strict confidence. Telephone 01305 – 206681 or 01305 – 206673.

Steve Maidment
Investigations Officer