THE Scottish Deputy Rural Development Minister Rhona Brankin today urged the farmed salmon industry to re-double its efforts to prevent an outbreak of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) after the latest annual survey shows decreases in compliance rates in some areas.
The fifth annual report into compliance with the code of practice on ISA showed generally high levels of compliance in many areas but avoidable decreases in others.
She said:
"Scotland's salmon farming industry is a vital part of the economy and compliance with the provisions of the Code is crucial to maintaining its high health status.
"I recognise the achievements in complying with the ISA Code of Practice. However this year there has been some slippage and it is therefore time for the industry to re-double its efforts to comply."
Commenting on the Report the new chief executive of Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, Sid Patten, said:
“We are surprised with the tone of the Executive's headline as it doesn't seem to match the facts in the Report, which show that Scottish salmon farming is doing very well in complying with the Code of Practice.
“25 of the 27 indicators are either within a few per cent or improved on last year’s performance and, as the Executive notes, compliance was greater than 90 per cent for the majority of the criteria.
“I am delighted with the compliance levels and I am sure the salmon farming industry will continue to maintain and improve on these already high standards.”
The Fifth Annual Survey Report on Compliance with the Code of Practice to Avoid and Minimise the Impact of Infectious Salmon Anaemia covers the period October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005. Its main findings are:
* Compliance with the code has generally been high throughout the year and some areas have seen an improvement on last year's levels.
* Compliance was greater than 90 per cent for the majority of the criteria surveyed with nine of the criteria seeing 99 per cent or 100 per cent compliance.
* Improvements have been made in marine farms fallowing prior to stock input - up from 96 per cent to 99 per cent. Eggs disinfected immediately after fertilisation - up from 95 per cent to 100 per cent. Equipment at seawater farms site specific or dis
infected between sites up from 68 per cent to 72 per cent.
Compliance was down in other areas including:
* Containment of blood at slaughter - down two per cent to 98 per cent,
* Provision of site specific diving gear or disinfection equipment between sites at seawater sites - down two per cent to 95 per cent,
* Compliance with the code of practice on the movement of fish between seawater sites - down eight per cent to 69 per cent.
The Industry ISA Code of Practice was published in August 2000, recommending best practice to minimise the spread of disease within the Scottish fish farming industry.
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