THE Environment Agency has carried out a series of improvements at Leyland Fish Farm in Lancashire following the discovery of antibodies to tench rhabdovirus.

The antibodies, which indicate that fish have been exposed to the viral disease during their lifetime, were found in summer 2004. All ponds were cleaned and disinfected and stocks were destroyed humanely as a precaution.

Production of fish re-started last year and over the last six months the Environment Agency has been carrying out improvements to prevent diseases entering the farm.

The changes include the creation of an enclosed hatchery site to improve biosecurity and health and safety. The site has been fenced off and visitors will only be able to access it via a new entrance cabin where they will be required to sign in and change their footwear.

A changing cabin has been introduced in the broodstock area and wash areas have been created for vehicle disinfection. The site has also been split into separate coloured zones to prevent cross-contamination.

Fisheries Officer Mark Rudd said: "After the problems we experienced at Leyland Fish Farm, it's great to be back in business. We are confident that these new measures will minimise the risk of the disease reoccurring."

Leyland Fish Farm is an Environment Agency owned coarse fish farm currently producing chub, bream, roach and dace. The fish are reared to re-stock rivers throughout the North West of England following pollution incidents.

The Environment Agency has a duty to maintain, improve and develop fisheries, enhance the social and economic benefits from fishing and promote water-related recreation. As such it carries out improvements to fisheries by enhancing habitat and fish stocks.

Projects like this are funded by money raised from rod licence sales. Stocking rivers with coarse fish is one of many ways in which the Environment Agency is reinvesting that income in improving the region's watercourses for anglers.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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