The Marine Institute runs a risk-based health surveillance scheme which includes health visits and sampling at an appropriate frequency depending on the nature of production at the aquaculture establishment.
The programme is required by Article 26 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and aims at the timely detection of increased mortality, certain diseases listed in regulation and emerging diseases.
Frequency of Marine Institute risk-based fish health surveillance visits
The frequency of risk-based surveillance visits depends upon the type of aquaculture establishment and subsequently the risk factor assigned to that establishment. The risk ranking criteria are applied in accordance with Part 1 of Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2020/689.
- at least once per year in high-risk establishments
- at least once every two years in medium-risk establishments
- at least once every three years in low-risk establishments
Additional animal health visits
In accordance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, operators are obligated to ensure that aquaculture establishments under their responsibility receive animal health visits from a veterinarian when appropriate due to the risks posed by the establishment. The purpose of these visits is to promote disease prevention.