Inspection reports

Case Number: 2020-0540

Download Mortality notifications 2019: w/b 10/12/2018 (wk50 2018) <70g @ 3% damaged pipe; w/b 7/10/19 (wk41 2019) 5g to smolting
@4.5% fungus; w/b 14/10/19 (wk42 2019) 5g to smolting 1.15% fungus;
Mortality notification 2020: w/b 14/9/20 5g to smolting @ 2.73% fungus; w/b 21/9/20 5g to smolting @ 2.11% fungus & handling
Site currently short staffed and tanks were being checked during the inspection, so 1 or 2 morts observed in some of the tanks. One tank had 5-10 fish with visible fungus but these were all swimming actively. Overall water was peaty and no visible fungus observed in any of the other tanks (fungus is more visible in peaty water conditions). Some issues with fin nipping
(dorsal fins) recently on site, this was apparent across the site but more prominent is some tanks than others. This is due to fish taking some time to fully come back onto feed post vaccination and feeding not having been optimal recently as well as this strain of fish being thought to be more aggressive, but feeding rate has been adjusted and this is expected to resolve issues with fin nipping.
Accompanied by APHA Vet for training.
Required documents received and reviewed for MIX and EC/VMD issues raised on 26/01/2021. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2021-0487

Download Applecross Smolt Unit (recent mortality):
Wk44: 26830, 1.99%
Wk45: 66245, 4.98%
Wk46: 50810, 4.07%
Wk47: 7012, 0.59%
(Site manager could not remove culled fish from mortality total)
W/b 08/11/2021- 6.66% Mortality event
Some confusion regarding naming of the site. Site staff have been distinguishing between the smolt unit with Applecross and
Russelburn, when they are operating under the same authorisation.
Paperwork and sampling completed by supervised by [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0006

Download The mortality levels before the 21/12/2021 included the mortalities from the flow through unit at Russel Burn. For reference,
Russel Burn comprises of two units; a flow through unit and a recirulating smolt unit. The flow through unit was demolished on the 11/01/2022. Therefore, Russel Burn now only houses 7 tanks, which is also known as Applecross Smolt unit.
Nevertheless, the reported mortalities almost totally comprise of morts from the smolt unit.
Recent mortality w/b 03/01/2022 (week 1 2022)- 4.79% as a result of Fungus
Fish that were transferred on 27/12/2021 and 28/12/2021 to Aird reported a 2.19% post transfer mortality. Further smolts have been transferred as of 12/01/2022 to the SW site Aird. The majority of mortalities observed were in the smolt unit, with almost all affected stocks now fully transferred to SW sites. Pre-transfer checks were conducted.
Smolts went out yesterday- Aird sw sites. Majority of mortalities have been in the smolts which have now been transferred.
Pre transfer health checks are conducted. The remaining stock on site are being transferred to SW sites in week 5. There is one tank of Native Hebridean stocks at 54g average weight remaining and is planning to be transferred in week 14 2022.
These fish will be transferred to Sgeir Dughall and Greanamul. The remaining stock with lower levels of fungus are being monitored and treatment are available if required e.g. Aquacen as well as raising salinity levels to 4.0 with the addition of salt.
Vaccination occurs in the parr unit prior to smolt unit transfer.
Mortalities are disposed of in bins which are uplifted by Billy Bowie and taken to Dalry. This is a common process with
Applecross site.
In regards to transfers, the site is fitted with a pipe from the smolt unit 1km from the wellboat docking site.
PSI paperwork conducted by , observed by on 13/01/2021. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0017

Download Remote paperwork by 01/02/22. Site inspection carried out by 02/02/2022.
Fish that were transferred on 27/12/2021 and 28/12/2021 to Aird reported a 2.19% post transfer mortality. Further smolts have been transferred as of 12/01/2022 to the SW site Aird.
On 19/01/22, the fish in Stofinfisker stocked tanks 1,2 4 and 6 were noticed to be behaving strangely (loss of equilibrium and coming to the surface). At time of incident water parameters were checked and normal for ammonia, nitrite, CO2, pH, O2, alkalinity and salinity. Monitoring of the stock was increased with staff being on site throughout the whole night. Water samples were taken when the change of behaviour was first noticed and further samples taken during the event. These have been sent away for heavy metals.
20/01/22 - Mortality levels in the 4 affected tanks had increased to 90% and decision was made to euthanise the remaining fish with T.M.S. Fish were sampled for histology showed gill irritation and secondary liver and spleen pathology. Considered to be a toxic irritant to the gills - water quality or water bourne insult considered the cause. No conclusions but hydrogen sulphide thought to be the cause. The effected tanks have been cleaned and the pipes pumped through, Looking for a dead spot in the pipe work or bio filter. This is the 2nd cycle of fish through the site.
Mort removal occurring over two days and are disposed of in bins which are uplifted by Billy Bowie and taken to Dundas
Chemicals Dumfries. This is a common process with Applecross site. With the resent increase mortalities, morts have also been collected by Fergusons Transport for disposal at Dundas
Fish in tank 7, Native Hebridean origin, showed similar signs at the time of the event but the mortality levels were far lower.
This stock was not euthanised and have since recovered. No lethargic or moribund fish were identified during the site inspection. Mortality levels have greatly reduced post event and were only at 57 (0.018%) fish out of 321,696 at the time of inspection on week 5, 2022 (wb 31/01/2022).
Aquacen was only administered to the stock that perished/were euthanised. Fish remaining on site were not in withdrawal from
Aquacen.
APHA were also present at the site inspection following reports by 3rd party.
Site thermometer used to take water temperature for biosecurity reasons. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2022-0220

Download Site inspection and paper work conducted by , supervised by .
Sites own thermometer used for biosecurity reasons.
Fish treated with Aquacen (formalin) on 25/10/2022, fish are nearing end of withdrawal period. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2023-0515

Download The current batch of fish will move in the ongrowing unit (ongrowing 1) in December.
No plans to use ongrowing 2 until Q3 2024.
Ensiler in the processing of being built and not yet commissioned. Fish will be ensiled in the future. Ensiler to be commissioned by the end of the year.
Fish will eventually be released to sea at 500g. There will be a phased approach to increasing the size of the fish with the next batch being released at between 200g - 230g. The plan is to release the fish at 500g by 2026/27.
Fish will be kept as parr in the smolt unit
Background salinity can be controlled. Salinity increased post vaccination or when fish show signs of disease. Salinity usually kept at 2ppt and raised to 5ppb post vaccination. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2024-0059

Download Inspection conducted with APHA Vet due to elevated mortalities.
Fungus became an issue in January post vaccination with mortality event notifications submitted to the FHI, 2024 wk 5
165,230 (24.53%), wk 6 42,855 (4.47%).

Mortalities for the last four weeks wk 9 36,638 (4.82%), wk 8 16498 (2.12%), wk 7 5965 (0.76%), wk 6 42855 (4.47%)
Two populations within the system LHS March 2023 and LHS May 2023 predominantly May 2023 cohort recorded the highest mortalities.
3 tanks were culled using ms222. 132,682 from tank 4, 68947 from tank 2 and 54024 from tank 7.
Treatments with formalin and salt for the saprolegnia however an issue with the supplier of salt prevented higher levels of salinity being achieved impacting on effectiveness
Furunculosis was confirmed by PCR (report issued on 23/2/2024) a treatment of Aquatet prescribed this was on-going on the day of inspection.
On inspection of the stocks no moribunds were observed, fish were showing a strong feeding response to the medicated feed.
Site thermometer used due to biosecurity protocols, thermometers are regularly checked against a mercury thermometer.
Paperwork inspected on the 4th and 5th March 2024, site inspection and VMD sampling on the 5th March 2024. [Original PDF]

Case Number: 2024-0177

Download Timeline of mortality events:
A review of the biosecurity on site was undertaken prior to the transfer of fish into the smolt unit, where the farm was zoned off and additional biosluices were put in place to minimize horizontal contamination.
Fish were vaccinated into the smolt unit which ended on 11/05/2024. Pre-transfers tests showed that positive results for furunculosis were reported on 14/05/2024 in S04 (VHWP inspected on 20/06/2024 which showed timeline of testing and mitigation measures noted). Feeding rates had reduced following vaccination (15/05/2024) and it was suspected that treatment may be required. Mortality began to significantly increase on 16/05/2024. Aquatet (oxytetracycline) was administered on 15/05/2024 to 24/05/2024. As a result, mortality and moribund removal was increased to 24hr shift. Extra staff has also been brought in to support the mortality and moribund removal. A second rise in mortalities was noted on 01/06/2024, with a second round of Aquatet administered on 04/06/2024. Due to stock shortages Florocol was only admistered on 12/06/2024 (10 day treatment; end on 21/06/2024).
Health team inspected the fish on 04/06/2024 and subsequently on 10/06/2024, where latterly many moribunds were observed, with a significant majority population seen to be healthy and feeding well. Third party health report from the
11/06/2024 (bacteriology) confirmed sensitivity results, which highlighted that aquatet was partially effective but fully sensitive to Florocol.
Currently, there is an 8 week window between next crop in the smolt unit; plans are to clean and disinfect for two weeks and the reboot the biofilter for 6 weeks.
Business is currently reviewing procedures and planning future mitigation. Additional immunity is being considered for future populations but require further research and work with additional vaccines. There is also a focus on biosecurity, where procedures involve a cleaning protocol between populations, swab for pathogens and if there is evidence of specific pathogen, killing of the biofilter will occur. The biofilter will be cleaned with caustic soda, which will be added in circulation, followed by
AquaDes (periacetic acid). To ensure removal of gross bioflims, pressure washing will be conducted. Also, business used an
ATP swabs, which will confirm if any living material still present in the biofilter.
Peak mortality noted for the 1st cluster of experience mortality on 19/05/2024 with ~4.50%, specifically in tank 1 and 5. The second cluster of mortality had a peak rate of ~3.50%, where tank 2 and 6 saw the majority of the mortality.
Treatment Withdrawal: Aquatet ( remaining 774 degree days as of 20/07/2024); Florocol (150degree days; prescription seen);
SLICE (treatment began 17/06/2024; withdrawal period 200 degree days)
Site thermometer used due to biosecurity, thermometers are regularly checked against a mercury thermometer.
Site and paperwork inspection conducted 20/06/2024. During site inspection, fish in smolt unit observed to be swimming well and actively feeding. Very few moribund or lethargic fish observed in the tanks. Mortalities that were observed were found to have haemorrhaging on bellies and some exophthalmia. Some fish were observed to be swimming well but had evidence of large healed lesions. 5 fish lethargic and moribund fish were removed for diagnostic sampling. [Original PDF]

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