Att 3 - Site Based Management · MCU17/0020

g) Chemicals and therapeutics are to be used only on the advice of an aquaculture veterinarian,
and withdrawal times must always be observed.

6.5.3 Disease Emergencies

If you suspect a disease outbreak, there are steps you can take to limit the spread of the
disease and protect healthy animals. As well as advising Fisheries Queensland of a disease,
you should:

      isolate any animals showing signs of disease or infestation in separate ponds and tanks
      quarantine all equipment from other ponds and tanks
      prevent birds, animals, vehicles and humans from spreading disease through the farm
      tend to healthy animals each day before you have any contact with sick ones
      Collect specimens of affected aquatic animals for laboratory examination fill out the Fin
       Fish Lab exam form (Appendix A) and send to below address.
      Safely dispose of diseased and dead animals, and effluent water.

Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory
Health and Food Sciences Precinct
Specimen receipt (Loading Dock 12)
39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains Qld 4108
Phone: 07 3276 6062 (Aquatic Pathologist - submission enquiries)
Fax: 07 3216 6620

6.5.4 Disease Notification Procedure

Under Section 100 of the Fisheries Act 1994 ‘A person who knows or reasonably suspects a
fisheries resource or a fish habitat is showing signs of disease, or knows or reasonably
suspects disease may be in fisheries resources or a fish habitat, must immediately notify the
chief executive or an inspector’

An aquaculture licence or permit holder must therefore notify a Fisheries Research Centre or
a Fisheries Extension Officer or the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QB&FP) of the
occurrence of, or the possibility of, a disease outbreak. Officers may be contacted by calling
the Call Centre on 13 25 23 Friday (excluding public holidays) or DPI&F after-hour emergency
number 3830 8550 for suspected exotic disease The Fisheries or QBFP Officer will then
contact the designated DPI&F expert for the particular event and will receive advice on an
appropriate course of action, eg site inspection, sample collection etc. The reporting
aquaculturist will then be advised of this course of action. In instances of disease in freshwater
or marine aquaculture the regional expert will be: Duty Fish Pathologist (or Laboratory
Manager) Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly Department of Primary Industries and
Fisheries TEL: (07) 3362 99471 (w)

6.5.5 Farm Procedures to prevent spread of disease

Foot baths and hand washing facilities will be placed at both of the entries to the juvenile and
grow out system. Foot baths and hand washing facilities will be available at the entrance to the
quarantine system.

If the facility is to be managed by 1 person at any time, the grow out facility and juvenile system
must be maintained before entering the quarantine system. If it is required to go back into the
grow out or juvenile system then the employee must change into clean clothes and put dirty