Inspection reports

Case Number: 2020-0345

Download Site received fish from Inchmore FS0226 on Friday 28th and Sunday 30th August 2020. Post-transfer spike in mortalities in
Wk35. Samples taken by operator showed no signs of an infectious challenge and mortality numbers dropped back to low levels within 24 hrs post transfer. main cause believed to be a combination of transport stress and environmental challenge.
Mortality at this site is otherwise very low.
Site also received an input of fish from Inverpolly FS0264 in July 2020. Fish were vaccinated against ERM/RTFS prior to transfer and are to be vaccinated on site with Alphaject m6 and PD1 in Wk37 and Wk38. Fish will also be vaccinated against
P.skyensis.
Site details, mortality records, treatment and medicine records, biosecurity records and results of health surveillance checked by NYL via Microsoft teams on 01/09/2020. Remainder of inspection carried out by WJM on 10/09/2020.
No moribund or lethargic fish observed during inspection of stock on site. Fish were responsive and appeared to be behaving as expected. Fish removed for VMD sampling at time of inspection showed no external or internal signs of disease and all had feed in the gut. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2021-0317

Download Site received three inputs of fish from Lochailort Recirculation Hatchery (FS1269), Inverpolly (FS0264) and Pettigo (ROI) in
July 21. Surveillance frequency has been updated to reflect imports from outwith GB. All stocks are reported to be doing very well, with very low mortality across the site since input.
Majority of mortalities following transfer from FW in 2020 were attributed to fungal infection, however mortalities across the site remained below the reporting threshold.
Formalin bath treatments were conducted during August 21 for Costia.
Cress was administered following transfer to the site to treat Saprolgeniasis, and again in August 21 for fungus.
Fish were vaccinated against ERM/RTFS prior to transfer and are currently being vaccinated on site with Alphaject m6 and
PD1. Vaccinations are expected to be completed by 9th September.
Fish will be transferred to Eilean Grainan, Loch Torridon and Loch Boisdale for ongrowing towards the end of the year.
Fish were difficult to observe during the inspection due to the dark peaty colour of the water, combined with the fish sitting deeper in the nets. Two cages had been towed to the shore to allow fish to be pumped up for vaccinations. The fish in these cages had been crowded and so were easier to observe.
Fish that were observed appeared to be in good health. No moribunds or mortalities were observed in any of the cages across the site.
Fish sampled for VMD also appeared healthy.
Paperwork completed remotely by on 01/09/2021. Site inspection was conducted by and accompanied by for
UKAS Audit. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0474

Download Since inspection last September fish moved off in December then restocked in July until Mid August then restocked again until end of September. Current stock moved on 24th October.
Mortalities for previous stocks - a couple of peaks in Nov/Dec 2021 due to fungus - reported, site to confirm numbers for w/c
15/11/21 and 06/12/21 as discrepancy between figures provided for inspection and those reported at time.
Morts were removed whole to Barkip by Billy Bowie. 2022 Q3/Q4 stocks from July-September were mostly <10/cage/day with no peaks. Morts for current stocks in Site Records sheet.
Formalin and Cress used in previous cycles.
Main mortality in current stock is due to cormorants. Pens 1, 2 and 10 slightly higher morts as closest to nesting area.
Started treating 14/11 for fungus - formalin and cress.
The FHI have received reports of farmed smolts being captured in Loch Ness. An escape investigation was conducted with the aim of determining the source. Some of the captures smolts have been genetically tested which showed them to be of
Aquagen origin. The genetic origin and size (134g and 247mm, 89g and 215mm) match the stock held on site between
04/07/2022 and 14/08/2022.
Movement records showed a difference between the number moved onto site and the number moved off site which was greater than the recorded mortality. The site manager explained that the number moved off includes a 3% 'overage' for the receiving site which accounts for most of the difference. This is company policy - to raise with business correspondent.
The site manager suggested further reasons for the difference between counts. The counts onto site were provided by the hatchery, whereas the counts off site were conducted at Loch Ness using a counter which had been recently serviced. The site manager explained that if the loch is at all rough during counts that the counter can be overloaded and miss fish going through for a few seconds as too many fish going up the pipe at once. The fish are not counted at unloading, the receiving site goes by the counts provided into the wells and tops up as needed with the next load.
During the period 04/07/2022 to 14/08/2022 fish were moved onto site (8 movements), treated on site (8 cages treated over 28
& 29 July - bath treatment) and moved off site (7 movements). Sample weights were also conducted. No other high risk activities were conducted - no vaccination or grading. There is no requirement to drop the sides of the nets during treatments, the net is shallowed and the tarpaulin drawn across. Each cage has it's own tarpaulin which is left in place raised, then dropped as required.
When moving fish off site the procedure is to tow the cages into the pontoon and pump ashore from there. The nets are shallowed and the side of the net dropped to about a foot above the water when pumping. The highest risk part of the procedure is the towing of cages, but no snags occurred during the relevant movements and no holes were found in nets when inspected between stocks.
Standard operating procedures and equipment was inspected during the on-site visit. No transfers were carried out during the visit so the site manager talked through the process and equipment was checked. All equipment was in a good state of repair and the described process did not identify any weaknesses in the procedures.
Unable to locate all documented risk assessments for transfers during on-site inspection -the health and safety risk assessment was available but not the containment one. A signed copy of the risk assessment for using a mobile pen was provided after the visit.
One lethargic fish seen across site - this was immediately after the net had been dropped again after collecting samples so likely caught in net. One dead fish seen across site.
Awaiting confirmation of site number for East Loch Tarbert site supplied.
Site paperwork, inspection and sampling carried out by , witnessed by as competency audit. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0595

Download Site inspection undertaken in relation to case# 2022-0474, which was conducted in response to suspected farmed fish being caught in Loch Ness.
The site was visited in order to witness a fish transfer from cages to lorries for further transport.
In order to move the cage the feed pipe is first disconnected. The mort sock was lifted and cleared of any mortalities using a winch attached to a work boat. The sock was then inverted and tied to a rope spanning the centre of the cage to lift it clear of the bottom. The nets were then raised, by hand. There are loops going around the net, at 2.5m intervals horizontally and
1m vertically. In total, there are 7 loops vertically, followed by lead to weigh the net down. The net is raised by 6 m (6 loops) which are then hung in place with metal hooks. As this is happening, staff check the integrity of the net.
There is then 1m of net left below the waterline. The only part of the net which would hang below this is the mort sock, which has been raised, inverted, and fixed in place to prevent it snagging.
The pen itself is fixed to the walkway with 2 ropes and a pin. There are fasteners on each side of the pin to prevent it falling out and it is also secured by rope.
Before these are untied and removed the cage is secured to the boat at two points, using ropes (one either side) and tightened so the bow is pushed tight against the pen.
The boat is backed away from the walkway, for around ten meters. There are no obstacles on the walkway, or in its vicinity which could hinder, or snag on the pen or its net.
There is a loose, set path which is followed towards the jetty and the pen is pushed at a slow walking pace (1400 revs). The second boat accompanies the boat manoeuvring the cage and there are members of staff on the pen itself and on the second boat watching. The speed is determined by the behaviour of the pen as well as that of the fish. If the fish begin to be pushed against the net, then the boat will be slowed.
It is very infrequent that there are any snags which catch on the net, however, as there is very little power being used to move the pen, then if there are any snags it is noticed as the boat will stop.
The depth of the loch is consistent along the path shown (15-20m) as the pen gets closer to the main jetty, it shallows to around 4m at its lowest.
The pen is then secured to the main jetty by ropes and the nets on side of the cage which faces away from the shore is lowered to 4m to give the fish more space over night before they are transferred to the lorry.
Observation of the fish being pumped into lorries could not be completed, due to severe bad weather, which prevented the lorry from collecting the fish. A subsequent inspection was carried out and the observations for the entire procedure were conducted during case 20220600. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0600

Download Site inspection undertaken to observe procedures for transfer of stock off site, following reports of feral farmed fish being caught in Loch Ness.
CNA and Escape investigation conducted 16/11/22 - refer to case 20220474
Inspection conducted 14/12/22 to observed procedures for movement of stock from site to jetty at shorebase, due to weather conditions it was not possible to inspect the movement of stock off - refer to case 20220595
Two pens were secured to the jetty prior to arrival of inspector on site. Both pens were emptied during the inspection.
No issues were observed with the transfer process, with all pipework securely in place, all equipment appeared in good operational order and site procedures were followed. Netting was placed over the walkway when intake pipe was moved between cages and during netting of final fish to flexi tubs. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2023-0310

Download Due to exposure of the site to the wind, the site is used to hold batches of fish for short periods of time before being moved on.
Fish will be sent to Loch Torridon after some time at Loch Ness.
No treatments have been conducted on the fish since input. [Original PDF]

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