Indicators 4.1

The UoC shall ensure that all relevant employees are trained on general aquatic animal health and welfare awareness, including biosecurity, according to Appendix 12 (12.2, Table 1).

The UoC shall ensure that any person involved in aquatic animal husbandry and handling activities is trained on aquatic animal health and welfare, according to Appendix 12 (12.2, Table 1).

The UoC shall ensure that the content of the training in Indicators 4.1.1.14 and 4.1.1.15 is updated as necessary and is approved by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.

The UoC shall only use native cleaner fish species.

The UoC shall carry out a risk assessment prior to stocking cleaner fish, considering at least the following:

The UoC shall only stock batches of cleaner fish that have been tested prior to stocking and are free from diseases of regional concern.9292An exemption applies to wild caught species sourced from zones or compartments declared disease free. See COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals and European Union Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases: Cleaner fish in aquaculture: Health management and legislative issues.

The UoC shall implement a vaccination plan that:

The UoC shall provide hides and refuges for the cleaner fish that are:

The UoC shall only stock cleaner fish:

The UoC shall ensure that cleaner fish feed is not withdrawn to enhance sea lice control.

The UoC shall ensure that a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional periodically visits the site to perform routine checks. Checks shall be carried out at least annually, as well as reactively in cases of fish health or welfare concerns.

The UoC shall develop, implement and maintain a site-specific Health and Welfare Management Plan (HWMP), approved by a registered veterinarian, with the intention of preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring the good health and welfare of cleaner fish.

 The HWMP shall include all of the following:

The HWMP shall be reviewed:

at least annually for sites with cycles under one year or using continuous production methods; or

after each cycle for sites with longer cycles or all-in-all-out production methods.

Where the review determines that changes are required, the HWMP shall be revised.

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a water quality monitoring process according to Appendix 12 (12.3, Table 2).

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a morphological monitoring process for live cleaner fish. Monitoring shall be conducted at least once every three months coinciding with any fish handling activity, and shall include at least the following scoring parameters:

An exception applies where deviation from monitoring frequency is justified by any of the following reasons:

In which case monitoring shall be conducted using cameras or from the side of the culture unit for as many parameters as possible. The reason for any deviation shall be recorded.

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a feeding monitoring process for live cleaner fish. Monitoring shall be conducted weekly.

An exception applies where deviation from weekly monitoring is justified under environmental conditions that affect the welfare of the cleaner fish or the health and safety of employees.

The reason for any deviation shall be recorded.

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a mortality monitoring process which includes at least the following:

Where any of the listed items above are not possible, the UoC shall record the reason.

The UoC shall ensure the HWMP includes a mortality reduction plan which defines annual targets for both total and unexplained mortalities, and shall implement appropriate actions to meet the annual targets.

The UoC shall report the following to a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional:

The UoC shall calculate cleaner fish stocking densities in relation to salmon stocking, following the method outlined in Appendix 12 (12.6.3).

The UoC shall develop, implement and maintain a site-specific Handling Management Plan (HMP), with the intent of ensuring the good health and welfare of cleaner fish.

The HMP shall be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP, following consultation with a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional, considers the use of anaesthesia during handling activities.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a fitness assessment of the cleaner fish prior to handling activities,9898An exemption applies to handling activities related to health examinations (e.g. health assessment, parasite counting) and in the case of emergencies (e.g. containment of an escape). approved by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.

For the specific handling activities listed below, the fitness assessment shall be carried out:

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP considers crowding activities with the intention of preventing stress, injury and mortality. Crowding activities shall be carried out:

An exception applies where a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional demonstrates that exceeding two hours of crowding does not negatively impact cleaner fish welfare, in which case the maximum time period shall be defined by the registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. 

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a water quality monitoring process according to Appendix 12 (12.3, Table 2).

In the case of live transport9999An exemption applies where live transport after uplift of fish is conducted by a third party outside of the scope of the UoC’s certification and the cleaner fish are no longer owned by the UoC, or where monitoring during transport negatively affects aquatic animal health and welfare., monitoring shall be conducted at the point of departure, during transport and on arrival.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a visual inspection process to identify abnormal behaviour in relation to the handling activity and defines mitigation measures when identified.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes acclimatisation measures to prevent sudden changes in water conditions affecting the health and welfare status of the cleaner fish.

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes consideration of the use of appropriate equipment during handling activities to avoid affecting the health and welfare status of the cleaner fish.

Indicator applicability: cleaner fish from wild caught origin

The UoC shall demonstrate that the fishing gear used avoids injuries and unnecessary stress, and that it is suitable for the size and species of cleaner fish being captured.

The UoC shall adhere to species-specific limits on maximum fasting duration before any handling,101101An exemption applies in exceptional situations of severe weather, adverse environmental conditions (e.g. jellyfish, algal bloom) or during disease events. according to Appendix 2 (2.4)102102An exemption applies where there is no species-specific metric listed in Appendix 2..

An exception applies before slaughter where a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional demonstrates that exceeding the fasting duration does not negatively impact cleaner fish welfare, in which case the maximum fasting duration shall be defined in the HMP by the registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. 

The UoC shall appoint a staff member responsible for overseeing the implementation of cleaner fish health and welfare requirements during slaughter.

The UoC shall define the maximum time between stunning and killing and shall ensure the time is as short as possible so it does not negatively impact cleaner fish welfare.

The UoC shall maintain records of the activities carried out under Indicators 4.1.3.13 and 4.1.3.14.