Fish Health Inspectorate
"Protecting, enhancing and improving aquatic animal health in England and Wales"
What we do
The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) is a specialist team within Cefas responsible for fish and shellfish health matters on behalf of Defra in England and the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales.
Our main objective is to prevent the introduction and spread of serious fish and shellfish disease in England and Wales. We achieve this by:
- implementing and managing monitoring programmes
- assessing the incidence, prevalence and significance of diseases
- undertaking disease prevention and eradication measures
- applying controls to stop disease import and spread
- investigating unexplained mortalities
- advising on appropriate biosecurity and disease mitigation measures.
How we do it
With the support of Cefas' laboratory analytical services, the FHI utilises:
- risk assessment and mathematical modelling techniques. These are used to predict the spread and transmission of disease between farmed and wild species.
- contingency planning for disease outbreaks.
The FHI provides fish sampling for all major fish and shellfish diseases including koi herpesvirus (KHV), infectious salmon anaemia (ISA), viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), bacterial kidney disease (BKD), white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), bonamiosis and marteiliosis.
More information
For more detailed information about the FHI's responsibilities, current legislation, or forms and guidance, please visit our website: www.efishbusiness.co.uk. Alternatively, contact us:
Telephone: +44 (0) 1305 206700
Fax: +44 (0) 1305 206602
Email: fhi@cefas.co.uk
