Fish Health Directive - Information for Shellfish Producers

The Marine Institute will be hosting an information session for shellfish producers in the Galway/Mayo region on new regulations arising from the Fish Health Directivegoverning the health of aquaculture animals and products on Thursday 13 November 2008 in the Station House Hotel in Clifden, Galway. The meeting will start at 4pm. 

Fiona Geoghegan, Section Manager of the Fish Health Unit at the Marine Institute will present on ‘New Shellfish Health Legislation’. Ms Geoghegan will also be available to answer any questions / queries that producers have in relation to the regulations and associated fish health management plans.  

The Fish Health Directive covers fish and shellfish production as well as placing of aquaculture products on the market and associated controls. The new legislation updates existing legislation and provides a comprehensive risk based approach to disease surveillance.  

It also puts in place controls on the movement of potential vector and susceptible species and provides a structure for declaring the health status of Member States and areas within them. It aims to improve the competitiveness of Irish producers and open up access to markets while protecting Ireland’s superior fish health status.  

Information sessions have already taken place in Bantry, Dungarven, Donegal town and Oranmore Co. Galway.  

The Marine Institute’s Fish Health Unit (FHU) is the National Reference Laboratory in the Republic of Ireland for fish and shellfish diseases and is the Competent Authority for the implementation of aquatic animal health legislation.