This Biosecurity Advice informs stakeholders of a trial of proposed changes to Australia’s system for managing biosecurity risks associated with imported ornamental fish. The proposed changes aim to better manage the biosecurity risks by shifting the emphasis of risk management off-shore. The changes would negate the need for the current system of post-arrival quarantine detention of fish. The proposed changes include an on-arrival fish health surveillance program that would continuously monitor the effectiveness of overseas authorities in ensuring the health of ornamental fish exported to Australia. The department is planning to trial the surveillance system to test its operational feasibility.
Ornamental fish import permit holders willing to participate in the trial are asked to contact Animal Biosecurity.
Under the proposed system;
• all shipments of freshwater and marine ornamental fish would continue to be inspected on arrival,
• bags of fish showing significant mortality or morbidity would be sampled during on-arrival inspection and the remaining fish destroyed or re-exported,
• some bags would be selected randomly during on-arrival inspection for sampling and the remaining fish in the consignment released,
• fish samples would be sent to participating laboratories for a general health assessment and testing for specific disease agents of quarantine concern, and
• the information obtained would be analysed and appropriate action taken to manage any biosecurity disease risk at the source.
Read more here – http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/2222167/BA-2012-23-Finsfish-trial.pdf
