Fish Health Inspectorate and the Pet Fish Trade - safeguarding the health of fish and shellfish

The primary role of the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) is to safeguard the health of fish and shellfish in England and Wales by controlling serious listed diseases and assessing/intervening in emerging disease threats.  They authorise the activities of fish and shellfish farms, shellfish purification centres, and importers and dealers.  They monitor the businesses primarily involved in importing live ornamental aquatic animals.  The FHI has a programme of disease surveillance visits - targeted at Border Control Posts (BCP) in order to screen imports for specific diseases and non-native species.  This allows for trade internationally of live aquatic animals, with businesses knowing there are controls and checks on the fish they import.

The FHI also maintains non-native species controls such as on invasive fish and crayfish species, enforcing a permitted list of species of tropical fish and crayfish that are allowed to be kept by hobbyists, for research and for conservation purposes.  The permitted species list provides clear indication of what can be kept and is a list of fish species that are considered unable to establish populations in the UK environment.  In addition to the list of fish, crayfish are also restricted with only a single species allowed to be kept by hobbyists; the red-clawed crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).  Further guidance can be found on the Introduce or keep non-native fish, lobsters and crayfish webpage.

The FHI carry out both random and targeted screening of imports and respond to any intelligence provided that may indicate illegal activity. They work closely with Animal and Plant Health Agency APHA) colleagues at Border Control Posts such as at Heathrow and Manchester airports or seaports such as Harwich to identify and remove non-permitted species that may be invasive and present in imports and follow up with any necessary investigations.

The FHI works closely with the ornamental aquatic industry and trade association to promote a pragmatic partnership in terms of ensuring a preventative approach to diseases and non-native species.