Mozambique bans fish imports from Malawi

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Mozambique bans fish imports from Malawi

11:54 CAT | 02 Sep 2020

Photo: TVM

Mozambican government on Tuesday announced a ban, with immediate effect, on the import of fish from the Malawian district of Ntchisi, where there has been an outbreak of the fish disease epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), also known as red spot disease (RSD).

EUS is caused by the fungus Aphanomyces invadans, and the mortality rate in aquaculture can be 100 per cent.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), the Minister of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Augusta Maita, said the ban was intended to prevent the spread of the fungus into Mozambique.

Maita said there is no indication that the disease has already reached Mozambican waters. Nonetheless, her Ministry is training fish farmers and technical staff to recognise the symptoms of EUS.

The disease was first discovered in Japan in 1971, and since then has been diagnosed in several other countries in Asia, America and Africa. About 12 years ago there was an outbreak in Botswana, but the fungus did not reach Mozambique that time either.

“Right now, we are making every effort to avoid the spread of the disease into our waters”, said Maita. She urged fishermen to be vigilant and to alert the authorities if they discover any cases.

When te outbreak was first noted, in July, the Malawian authorities alerted the other member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Mozambican fisheries authorities have revived the epidemiological surveillance system, first implemented in response to the Botswana outbreak. If extensionists detect any fish with the telltale red spots, they are to inform the authorities immediately.

Source: AIM