Fish Health Management in Slovenia

Abstract

Slovenian aquaculture system is quite specific because we have small water sources and small fish farm facilities, which is reflected also in the organisation of fish health management. In fish health management we pay close attention to the prevention of fish diseases. The technology of fish farming, fish handling and nutrition are controlled both, from the economic and fish welfare point of view. Brown trout, marble trout, lake trout, brook trout, huchen, grayling, common carp, nase and chub are bred for restocking. Besides fish production for restocking, rainbow trout and common carp are produced for human consumption. In the last 15 years the number of fish farms has considerably increased. In compliance with the National Programme financed by the Veterinary Administration of Slovenia of the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, all hatcheries have to be examined to IHN and VHS viruses, all carp for restocking have to be examined to spring viraemia of carps and eritrodermatis. In Slovenia, whirling disease is also a notifiable disease and all trout fingerlings have to be examined on Myxobolus cerebralis. Other fish farms are examined according to the epizootiological situation or with regard to clinical and pathoanatomical changes presumptive of notifiable diseases.