Cefas inspectors on hand at GO FISHING exhibition

Fish Health Inspectors from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) will be visiting the GO FISHING 2008 exhibition for the first time at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Three field inspectors will be on hand during the exhibition, which takes place over the weekend of 14–16 March 2008.

With the advent of koi herpes virus (KHV) as a significant concern for fisheries, the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) aim to reach out to the wider angling community. They will distribute relevant information about KHV and other serious fish diseases, explain exactly what the FHI does and answer questions from anglers attending the show. Cefas provide a KHV testing service, so information about that will also be on offer.

Many of the inspectors are anglers themselves, and they have built up a rapport with a number of angling groups and organisations. A FHI spokesman said: “We are keen for anyone interested in the health and welfare of UK fish to come along to the stand, have a chat and find out how anglers themselves can help in the fight against fish diseases.” 

Based at Weymouth, Dorset, the FHI helps to prevent serious fish diseases taking hold in the UK, thus protecting natural fish stocks. The Inspectorate is responsible for health certification of fish and shellfish movements from other countries, and runs an enforcement programme aimed at preventing the illegal importation of these animals. It also has responsibility for the licensing of non-native species and the enforcement of “keeping” legislation for such species.

The FHI is dedicated to maintaining and improving fish and shellfish health in England and Wales. Its primary role is to act for Defra and the National Assembly for Wales, Agriculture Department (NAWAD) in undertaking statutory and inspection duties resulting from the EU Fish Health regime and other related national legislation.

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. 
2. Operating as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas works alongside government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone’s wellbeing, health and prosperity. 
3. The agency achieves its aims by providing evidence-based scientific advice, managing related data and information, conducting world-class scientific research, and facilitating collaborative action through its wide-ranging international relationships. It applies its expertise and knowledge gained through over 100 years of applied science and research to fisheries management, environment and biodiversity protection, and aquaculture. For more detail about its range of activities visit www.cefas.co.uk. 
4. Information about the role of the FHI can be found at www.cefas.co.uk/fish-health-inspectorate.aspx. For more about its work on disease monitoring visit www.cefas.co.uk/fish-health-inspectorate/disease-monitoring-and-investigation.aspx. 
5. Cefas provide a testing service for KHV, a deadly and extremely contagious viral fish disease. For more about that service visit www.cefastechnology.co.uk/khv/default.htm. 
6. The GO FISHING 2008 exhibition is taking place at the Birmingham NEC. For more about the exhibition visit www.gofishingshow.com/08home.html.  

Press contact:
Anne McClarnon: Telephone: 01502 524370 / Email: anne.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk