More information on fish health issues and work carried out by our team.
Fish health
We investigate the causes of
fish mortalities other than those caused by pollution. This work assists identification of the cause of fish death, helps prevent he spread of disease and helps the Agency provide fisheries management advice where and when problems occur.
We also carry out health checks on all Environment Agency fish movements (but not on angling club or private fishing movements). These health checks are used to prevent the introduction of fish infected with
category 2 diseases,
novel parasites that have never before been found in England and Wales, or having clinical disease symptoms.
We provide technical support for independent fish health consultants who carry out health checks in support of applications to move fish made under Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975). Only fish samples that pass this health check can be introduced to rivers, canals or waters connected to them.
Fact Sheets
We have produced the following fact sheets to provide basic information on some of the diseases that infect our freshwater fish. The types of organisms that can cause disease in fish include parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungus.
These fact sheets describe what the organisms are, what they do to the fish, what problems they cause and how they can be managed. They only provide an overview, so you should always seek specialist advice.
Parasite fact sheets in the series
Category 2 and novel parasites
Guidance on disinfecting fishing tackle
Other fact sheets in the series
