“Towards protecting indigenous fish and amphibian populations from disease risks posed by ornamental fish.”
Overview:
RANA will assess the threat of systemic iridoviruses to amphibians, and farmed and wild freshwater fish in the EU. It will:
- Develop diagnostic methods for the detection of systemic iridoviruses in tissues of infected species
- Develop methods to differentiate highly virulent strains from the less potent ones
- Monitor disease in amphibians and ornamental fish to assess the presence of systemic iridoviruses
- Make recommendations for preventing the incursion and spread of serious iridoviral diseases in the EU
Contribution to policy development:
- RANA will provide scientific support for EU policy and legislation that prevents the spread of diseases among fish populations.
- EU fish health legislation is currently under revision (SANCO/10774/2003) and RANA will provide any evidence of additional disease hazards for farmed fish and any need to protect the health of wild fish populations.
- RANA will advise on whether new legislation should be brought in to apply health requirements to amphibians.
- Evidence from the project will inform discussion on the need for any further trade restrictions.
