Mystery virus killing coarse fish

Environment Agency Wales has taken steps to prevent the further spread of a mystery virus which has been responsible for the death of hundreds of coarse fish.

Earlier this year, the Agency was alerted to 5 separate instances of coarse fish mortalities on lakes in Wales and England. Fish samples collected from these lakes were taken to the National Fisheries Laboratory and the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquatic Research (CEFAS) for examination. The resulting tests confirmed the presence of a previously unreported virus in all of the fish samples.

Joint investigations carried out by the Environment Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) into the circumstances surrounding the fish mortalities revealed that all the affected fisheries had recently been stocked with fish which could be traced back to Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. In 1998 a large scale mortality of bream occurred on the River Bann, the river leading out of Lough Neagh. Tests undertaken so far have not been able to identify the virus, although it is not either of the similar viruses, Pike Fry Rhabdovirus (PFR) or Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC).

Environment Agency Wales' Fisheries, Recreation, Conservation and Navigation (FRCN) Manager Michael Evans, commented: "Obviously the Environment Agency is very concerned that this new virus has been discovered. In order to prevent any further spread of this virus the Agency will - for the time being - use its power under the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and grant no further Section 30 consents for fish originating from the Lough Neagh and River Bann catchment in Northern Ireland to be introduced to inland waters in Wales and England. The introduction of fish from any other sites shown to be infected with the virus will be controlled in the same way. This precaution will remain in place until further information is available on the identity and the environmental impacts of the virus, and the Environment Agency is completely satisfied that there is no possibility of the virus entering any further inland waters in Wales and England."