Koi seized at Channel Tunnel

Inspectors from the Fish Health Inspectorate, an arm of the UK Government's Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), intercepted a consignment of live koi carp on 12 May. Five boxes of this popular species were found in a van bringing fish into England through the Channel Tunnel at Cheriton.

The driver, a dealer in ornamental fish, has been reported for illegally importing the koi. Enquiries are continuing. No further information can be released at this time.

Notes to editors

1. Cefas is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory establishment, based at Lowestoft since 1902. It also has laboratories at Burnham-on-Crouch and Weymouth, and a number of other facilities around the UK. It became an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 1997.
2. The Fish Health Inspectorate’s primary role is to undertake statutory and inspection duties resulting from the EU Fish Health regime and other national legislation in the area of fish and shellfish health. The Inspectorate also licenses and monitors imports of fish and shellfish from other countries and runs an enforcement programme aimed at preventing the illegal importation of these animals. For more information see http://www.cefas.co.uk/fhi/enforcement.htm- illegal.

Press contact:

Anne McClarnon: 01502 524370 / 0776 829 0938 / a.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk