For mindless banter as well as up to date catch reports, advice, and classifieds visit our forum
Carp Fishing Forum
Following ECHO's achievements to successfully establish the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) as a notifiable disease in April 2006, the organisation has continued to be instrumental at government level in the legislative steps that followed, all necessary to secure workable solutions to containing and eradicating the virus from the UK’s fisheries.
"Following ECHO’s achievements to successfully establish the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) as a notifiable disease in April 2006, the organisation has continued to be instrumental at government level in the legislative steps that followed, all necessary to secure workable solutions to containing and eradicating the virus from the UK’s fisheries.
The past 2 years have seen a significant rise in KHV outbreaks in fisheries across the UK, whereas previously infected sites had mostly been garden ponds or aquariums.
In two meetings held with Defra on Jan 24th, and with full support of Martin Salter MP, ECHO entered the final stages of establishing new legislation to combat KHV introductions to the UK.
Following ECHO funded research to determine the distribution of KHV in the UK, early indications suggested that the disease was controllable and stakeholder groups including ECHO urged Defra to continue to work towards replicating the successful SVC controls for KHV. 5 years ago, imported SVC was a real threat to the UK’s carp stocks. Additional guarantees were sought, infected imports prevented and outbreaks were subject to a control and eradication programme. Cefas openly accept that the UK is now effectively SVC Free because of those stringent controls. Under the auspices of the new legislation, the same is now achievable by the UK to regain KHV free status in the future.
The new Aquatic Animal Health Directive clearly governs and in some cases restricts the possibilities that are available to Defra, as do funding issues. ECHO presented a strong case that maximum controls against KHV were in place and effective as soon as possible.
Under the new directive, it will be possible to prevent the introduction of carp from KHV compromised sources, and that will include those subject to KHV vaccination processes. "
Source: www.echocarp.co.uk
