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Appendix 1. Work Instructions to AQIS Officers
BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA ORNAMENTAL FISH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PROJECT: WORK INSTRUCTIONS FOR AQIS FISH INSPECTORS
Biosecurity Australia is conducting a disease diagnostic testing project aimed at obtaining better information about the health status of imported ornamental fish for diseases of quarantine concern. The objective of the project is to provide Biosecurity Australia with a better understanding of the type and extent of disease incidents to improve biosecurity risk assessments and develop better instructions for AQIS inspectors on how to deal with disease problems in ornamental fish quarantine premises.
The project will be managed and coordinated by an external consultant (the Western Australian Department of Fisheries) - the Project Coordinator. The project will focus on the "high risk" species as identified in the 1999 import risk analysis (IRA) of ornamental finfish, i.e.
(1) goldfish - all varieties of Carassius auratus;
(2) cichlids - all members of the family Cichlidae;
(3) gouramis - all members of the subfamily Trichogastrinae of the family Osphronemidae;
(4) livebearers - all members of the family Poeciliidae. The project will commence 30th May 2005 and is planned to run for one year.
During the project, should an AQIS fish inspector suspect the potential presence of a disease agent of quarantine concern (guidelines are below), they should direct samples of fish from the affected tank for diagnostic testing at the local State government laboratory (contact details are below).
Before fish are sampled, the importer's consent must be obtained using the attached 'Agreement of transfer of ownership' (Appendix 1-A).
Guidelines for determining whether a disease agent of quarantine concern is potentially present
- One or more fish from a particular shipment exhibit signs of clinical disease, eg death, external lesions, abnormal behaviour (eg flashing, gasping, inactivity etc), and;
- The clinical signs cannot be reasonably explained as being caused by a factor not associated with a communicable disease agent, eg travel stress, heat stress, water oxygen deficiency and;
- The tank records show a pattern of consistent or increasing mortalities over time (i.e. not falling off) and cumulative mortalities exceed 25% of fish in a single tank. A single shipment of fish may be housed in one or more quarantine tanks.
Sample collection/submission
- The 'Agreement of transfer of ownership' (Appendix 1-A) must be completed and signed before collection of fish for testing. This form must be forwarded to AQIS (see contact officer details below). The form does not accompany the shipment.
- 5-10 live affected fish should be collected for submission to the diagnostic laboratory (see Appendix 1-B).
- Fish should be packed in a plastic bag with 1/3 water and 2/3 air, with the top of the bag tied closed. After filling with water and placing the fish inside, the air in the bag should be squeezed out and the bag filled with oxygen (or air, if oxygen is unavailable). To ensure the bag is air/water tight, twist and double-over the neck of the bags and tie using tape, cord or rubber bands.
- Fish collected for diagnostic testing must be alive and should show clinical signs. NOTE: dead fish cannot be tested.
- Submissions must include a copy of the tank record, contact details of the importer and the AQIS officer, to allow early feedback on test results.
- The bags must then be packed in a watertight 6-pack foam esky, sealed and clearly labelled "Diagnostic Specimens - perishable", followed by the delivery address.
- Fish must be sent by courier as soon as possible to the diagnostic laboratory. Overnight transport is preferable.
- Each State diagnostic laboratory has a standard submission form for their individual lab.
- AQIS Officers, by using the preferred courier service for each laboratory, must tick the charge receiver box on the consignment note. It is the diagnostic laboratory's responsibility to pay the courier. Cost of testing and sample shipment will be borne by the Project Coordinator.
- The diagnostic laboratory should be advised of the imminent arrival of live fish submission.
- Results of diagnostic tests will be provided by the Project Coordinator to the regional AQIS office with a copy to AQIS Canberra
Appendix 1- A: Agreement for the Transfer of Ownership in Imported Ornamental Finfish
Date
Parties
Name
Short form name Transferor
Notice details
Name
Commonwealth of Australia (Commonwealth) for the purposes of this Agreement represented by and acting through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Short form name Transferee
Notice details
A: Background
A The Transferor is the beneficial owner of the diseased imported ornamental finfish ('the property').
B The Transferor has agreed to transfer ownership and the Transferee has agreed to accept the property on the terms and conditions contained in this agreement.
C The Transferee will use the property for the purpose of an aquatic surveillance program being conducted by Biosecurity Australia ('BA'), which is a part of the Transferee.
B: Agreed terms
1. Transfer of Ownership
Transferor, as beneficial owner, of the property, agrees to transfer ownership of the property to the Transferee and the Transferee agrees to take ownership of the property from the Transferor and undertakes to dispose of the property at its own cost at the conclusion of the BA aquatic surveillance program.
2. Other costs
The Transferee acknowledges that it is liable for all costs associated with the disposal of the property at the conclusion of the aquatic surveillance program.
3. Warranties
The Transferor warrants that it is the owner of the property identified and that the property is unencumbered.
Title and Risk
3.1 Title
Title to the property delivered passes to the Transferee on the signing of this agreement.
3.2 Possession
Possession of the property and risk related to the property is given by the Transferor and taken by the Transferee at the delivery point at the time of delivery.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
4.1 Governing Law
This agreement is governed by the law applicable in Australian Capital Territory.
4.2 Jurisdiction
Each party irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the Australian Capital Territory.
EXECUTED as an agreement
Signed by of
[insert Transferor Company Name] for
and on behalf of
____________________________________←
Signature of witness
____________________________________←
Signature of Transferor
____________________________________
Name of witness (print)
____________________________________
Name of Transferor (print)
Signed for and on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Australia by a duly
authorised representative
____________________________________
Signature of witness
____________________________________
Signature of authorised representative
____________________________________
Name of witness (print)
____________________________________
Name of authorised representative (print)
Appendix 1-B: State Diagnostic Laboratories
New South Wales
NSW Fisheries Regional Veterinary Laboratory
Bruxner Highway Wollongbar NSW 2477
Queensland
Yeerongpilly Veterinary Laboratory
Animal Research Institute, 665 Fairfield Road Yeerongpilly Queensland 4105
South Australia
Gribbles Veterinary Pathology
33 Flemington Street Glenside SA 5605 1300 307190
Western Australia
Fish Health Laboratory
Department of Agriculture 3-Baron Hay Court South Perth WA 6151
Victoria
Primary Industries Research Victoria, Attwood Site
475 Mickleham Rd Attwood Victoria 3065
03 9217 4200 fax 9217 4199
12 Feb 2010