The Fish Site

The oysters were reported as weak, losing fluid and not closing. Of the 30 oysters sampled Bonamia like parasites were observed through histology in three of the animals.
nfection with species of Bonamia rarely results in clinical signs of disease in oysters. More often, the only visual cue is increased mortality.
Bonamia exitiosa infects blood cells, destroying the immune system and interfering with other critical physiological processes.
PCR and gene sequencing confirmed the histology findings as: 1) One case of Bonamia ostreae (already present and controlled in this area) 2) One case of Bonamia exitiosa 3) One case inconclusive.
It is unclear whether Bonamia exitiosa can be attributed as a causative agent for the poor health of the oysters. On 21 February 2011 IFREMER (EU-RL) confirmed B. exitiosa in one animal.
B. ostreae was already present in the area. After initial suspicion of the presence of B. exitiosa, movement controls have been applied to all mollusc species and the initial controls extend across the entire River Fal estuary.
The current designation prohibits all movements of molluscan shellfish into, out of or within the control area and stipulate that disposal of dead molluscs must be using an approved method for disposal of Category 2 animal-by-product waste.
This particular population of O. edulis may have been subject to stress due to dredging of the area in summer 2010 to manage a red algae problem. Epidemiological investigations are underway.
TheFishSite News Desk

US - The US Department Agriculture (USDA) has announced a proposed rule requiring inspection of catfish and catfish products by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). USDA is proposing these regulations to implement provisions as required by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the 2008 Farm Bill.
The 2008 Farm Bill amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act making catfish an amenable species under the Act, thereby requiring that all catfish undergo inspection by FSIS. In addition, the Secretary must take into account the conditions under which catfish are raised and transported to processing establishments as part of the new inspection programme.
The 2008 Farm Bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to define the term "catfish" for this new inspection programme. The proposed rule provides two options for the definition of catfish and seeks public comment on the issue. One option is the current labeling definition in the 2002 Farm Bill, which includes all species in the family Ictaluridae. The other option is to define catfish as all species in the order Siluriformes, including the three families typically found in human food channels, including Ictaluridae, Pangasiidae, and Clariidae.
The proposed rule describes the new requirements that will apply to catfish produced in or imported to the United States. Among these requirements is that products labeled as "catfish" must bear either the FSIS mark of inspection or a mark of inspection from the country from which it was exported.
The proposed rule also describes how FSIS will inspect US catfish farms as well as transportation from farms to processing establishments, as required under the 2008 Farm Bill. In this regard, FSIS will focus on factors affecting the safety of the product being produced, such as water quality and feed.
The proposed rule anticipates a transition period during which domestic and international operations will come into compliance with the catfish inspection programme. Once the catfish inspection program rules are issued in final form, FSIS will follow-up by announcing the implementation dates for key provisions in the rule.
Comments must be received on or before June 24, 2011, and may be submitted per the following: through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov; by mail to the US Department of Agriculture, FSIS Docket Clerk, Room 2-2127, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Mailstop 5272, Beltsville, MD 20705; or by e-mail to fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov. All comments must identify FSIS and docket number FSIS-2008-0031. Comments will be available for viewing on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/proposed_rules/index.asp. In addition to a public comment period, FSIS intends to hold public meetings on the proposed rule, which will be announced at a later date.

According to Andrei Krainy, Head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, there is an enormous potential for both domestic and export market, through the expansion of the farmed fish sector.
He used Vladivostok as an example, where there are unique Hydrobiological conditions for growing sea cucumber, for which there is a huge global demand.
Growth in farmed fish in Russia, has led to the adoption of federal laws on aquaculture, which Mr Krainy says willbe first heard in March.
The development of these laws will be based on a public-private partnership.