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System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 4.4.4

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.3

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.2

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.1

Requirement

The UoC shall only use therapeutants as prescribed by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Therapeutant prescriptions should be accordance with regulatory requirements.

    • Prescribed by a registered veterinarian or a qualified aquatic animal health professional.

Evidence of Implementation

  • If prescriptions are made by health professionals who are not veterinarians, obtain evidence of competency (e.g. accreditation) in diagnosing, for the purposes of the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code.

  • Records:

    • Prescriptions and therapeutants use (for details, refer to Indicator 4.4.2).

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Prescriptions and therapeutants use.

  • The observation should be cross-checked with records.

  • If a non-veterinarian wrote prescriptions, confirm that the individual is qualified as an aquatic animal health professional.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.3.7

Requirement

The UoC shall maintain records of the activities carried out under Indicators 4.1.3.3 and 4.1.3.4. Indicators 4.1.3.8-4.1.3.16:Scope: Cleaner fish

Indicator 4.1.3.6

Requirement

The UoC shall not use any of the following methods to kill fish: a) asphyxiation in air; or b) carbon dioxide (CO2) bath; or c) salt bath; or d) ammonia bath; or e) evisceration.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The methods outlined above do not induce immediate or rapid loss of consciousness and therefore do not meet the requirements of Indicator 4.1.3.2.

  • Approved methods for each species are outlined in Appendix 12 (Table 5).

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.1.3.1

Requirement

Indicator 4.1.2.15

Requirement

The UoC shall adhere to a limit of 15 seconds maximum time out of water.7474An exemption applies to anaesthetised fish and pangasius (due to its ability to breathe air facultatively).

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Fasting duration:

    • Calculation in degree days provides a more precise indication of fish metabolic activity because it incorporates time and temperature, which better reflect the biological processes, and provides a standardised metric across different locations and time periods.

    • The concept of degree days involves accumulating the average daily temperature over a period of time, i.e. 3 days at an average daily temperature of 19 °C, are 57-degree days.

    • In the case of exceptional situations (see requirement footnote) the length of fasting would be linked to the duration of the event rather than a pre-set timing or veterinarian or aquatic health professional rationale.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records confirming the required parameter and their conformance with minimum/maximum value.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established minimum/maximum fasting time.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The minimum/maximum time fasting time is included in the HMP and incorporates considerations related to intrinsic factors and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.1.2.14

Requirement

Indicator 4.1.2.13

Requirement

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 fish.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Standardised acclimatisation measures should be designed and maintained, e.g.:

    • Water temperature during transportation must be as close as possible to that which the fish came from.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Standard acclimatisation measures and monitoring of the water quality according to the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of acclimatisation parameters before stocking.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the acclimatisation measures and monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The acclimatisation measures included in the HMP incorporate the minimum required elements and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources