Section Fis 803.09 - Pathological Inspections for Fish(a) Pathological inspections of fish shall be conducted annually, and the most recent within one year prior to the date of import and at least 3 consecutive annual inspections shall be conducted, prior to the date of import. (b) The inspection shall be conducted only by a licensed veterinarian, persons certified as a fish health inspector or a fish pathologist by the American Fisheries Society or under the Canadian fish health regulations, or an employee of the fish and game department in the state from which the fish or gametes originate with responsibility and training for fish health inspections. A copy of the certification shall be sent to the executive director before approval. No owner or employee with direct supervisory authority over a facility shall serve as an inspector for their fish culture facility. (c) The methods of disease diagnosis and the fish culture facility inspections shall follow the procedures and the methods as described in the "Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens", developed by the Fish Health Section (FHS) of the American Fisheries Society, 2016 Edition as specified in Appendix II. If more sensitive or more definitive published procedures are available, they may be used, but any departures from the basic procedures set forth by the FHS shall be noted on all associated inspection reports. (d) No fish shall be imported from states known to have waters infested with zebra mussels or from states which allow the importation of fish from states infested with zebra mussels unless the source of fish is approved free of zebra mussels. (e) Pathological inspections of fish shall include results of the examinations for family specific pathogens listed as specified in Table 800.1.1, below: Table 800.1.1 Family Specific Pathogens Table
Family Group | Viral pathogens | Bacterial pathogens | Parasitic pathogens |
Salmonidae (e.g., trout, salmon, char) | Infectious salmon anemia virus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus | Aeromonas salmonicida Yersinia ruckeri Renibacterium salmoninarum | Myxobolus cerebralis |
Cyprinidae (e.g., minnows) Castomidae (e.g., suckers) and Osmeridae (e.g, smelt) fishes. | Spring viremia of carp virus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus | Aeromonas salmonicida Yersinia ruckerii Renibacterium salmoninarum |
Centrarchidae (e.g. black bass) Moronidae (e.g., striped basses) Percidae (e.g., walleye, yellow perch) Esocidae (e.g., pikes) | Spring viremia of carp virus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus Largemouth bass virus | Aeromonas salmonicida Yersinia ruckeri Renibacterium salmoninarum |
Ictaluridae (e.g. catfishes) | Channel catfish virus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus | Aeromonas salmonicida Yersinia ruckeri Edwardsiella tarda Edwardsiella ictaluri |
Cichlidae | Tilapia Iridovirus Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus Spring viremia of carp virus | Aeromonas salmonicida Yersinia ruckeri Streptococcus iniae Streptococcus agalactia |
(f) Sample collection and sample lots for specific family testing shall comply with the following: (1) Facility inspections shall include a minimum of 150 fish from the facility with no less than 60 of each species; (2) Facility inspections shall include 3 years of inspection of the facility; (3) Wild fish inspections shall include 60 fish per species and require 3 years of inspection on source population; (4) Cichlidae fishes that are kept in a closed system shall include one year of inspection; and (5) Salmonidae live fishes or eggs shall include 3 consecutive years of pathological inspection. (g) Disinfected Salmonidae eggs from broodfish which are positive for the following list of pathogens that are disinfected prior to import and transported in pathogen-free water may be imported into the state: (1) Myxobolus cerebralis, whirling disease agent; (2) Yersinia ruckeri, enteric redmouth disease agent; and (3) Aeromonas salmonicida, furunculosis agent. (h) All Salmonidae eggs shall be disinfected upon receipt, provided that any such eggs which are positive for Aeromonas salmonicida shall be disinfected twice upon receipt. (i) No fish from a facility or water body known to be infected with infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, Heterosporis, infectious salmon anemia virus, spring viremia of carp, Myxobolus cerebralis, Ceratomyxa shasta, Tetracapsula bryosalmonae, or epizootic epitheliotrophic disease virus (EEDV) shall be imported. N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 803.09
(See Revision Note at chapter heading for Fis 800) #5507, eff 11-20-92; ss by #6889, eff 11-21-98; ss by #8120, eff 7-16-04; ss by #8893, eff 6-5-07; rpld by #10279, eff 2-28-13
Amended by Volume XXXV Number 27, Filed July 9, 2015 , Proposed by #10868, Effective 6/25/2015, Expires12/22/2015.Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 06, Filed February 11, 2016, Proposed by #11029, Effective 1/26/2016, Expires 1/26/2026.Amended by Volume XXXIX Number 19, Filed May 9, 2019, Proposed by #12768, Effective 5/3/2019, Expires 5/3/2029.