8-May-2006 - The Environment
Agency has carried out a series of improvements
at Leyland Fish Farm 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 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.
