A consignment of invasive fish has been seized by fish health inspectors at the Port of Dover, UK.
More than 4,000 live Prussian carp, which can carry unknown diseases and parasites, were discovered in the operation carried out by officers from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI).
The FHI operational lead on enforcement, Jon Hulland, said that the seizure was an excellent example of what multi-agency working can achieve. “Not only have we stopped a huge quantity of illegal non-native species entering the UK, we have also put a significant dent in the finances of the company that is undertaking this trade,” he said, adding that further operations were planned in the very near future.
This action is part of Operation Frederick, an ongoing three-month enforcement campaign to target illegally imported live fish.
The FHI targeted, stopped and searched the transport vehicle at the Port of Dover alongside Border Force and Animal and Plant Health Agency colleagues. The lorry contained around 1,400kg of Prussian carp, alongside other invasive species including wels catfish and brown bullhead catfish.
All fish were humanely euthanised, removing the risk to the aquatic animal health status of the UK and its native aquatic animal populations.
