Aquaculture Regulations 2016

If the mortality rate for aquatic organisms farmed under a licence is unusually high (see regulation 3(2)) and the licensee knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the organisms are or may be affected with a disease, the licensee must take the following action:

the licensee must, immediately after becoming aware of the unusually high mortality rate, notify the Minister, by telephone call to the number provided to the licensee for the purpose, of that fact and of as many of the prescribed details as are known at the time of the notification;

the licensee must, as soon as practicable after making the telephone call—

take all reasonable measures to isolate aquatic organisms apparently affected from aquatic organisms not apparently affected;

give the Minister notice in writing of the prescribed details. Maximum penalty: Maximum penalty: $10 000. Expiation fee: In the case of an offence against paragraph (a) or (b)(ii)—$1

In this regulation—

the licence number;

the name of the species of aquatic organisms;

the number or biomass (or an estimate of the number or biomass) of aquatic organisms that have died;

details of any clinical signs observable in the organisms prior to death;

the number or biomass (or an estimate of the number or biomass) of aquatic organisms that show similar clinical signs but have not died;

any known or suspected cause of death;

details of the measures taken to control or eradicate the disease;

details of all measures taken to isolate aquatic organisms apparently affected from aquatic organisms not apparently affected;

details of any other circumstances known or suspected to be contributing factors such as extreme weather conditions, power failures, poor water quality or water temperature.

For the purposes of subregulation (1), if the cause of an unusually high mortality rate for aquatic organisms farmed under a licence is not immediately apparent, the licensee will be taken to know that the aquatic organisms may be affected with a disease.