Health status of aquatic animals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

According to the State Veterinary Office (SVO) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are 34 salmonid, five cyprinid and two marine fish farms registered. Additionally, a number of fish farms are in the process of registration. Regular monitoring of viral fish diseases begun in 2003. The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for viral fish diseases, in cooperation with veterinary inspectors, has implemented all decrees assigned by the SVO and has performed analyses at registered fish farms. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regard to the presence, distribution and spread of viral diseases of salmonid species is favourable because the country is a major fish producer in the region and is oriented to its own production of fry through the existence of quality hatcheries and thus imports only a small percentage of fry. Because there are no cyprinid hatcheries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country is forced to import fry from other countries in the region. Fortunately, cyprinid viral diseases have not been reported from these sources. Because of the implementation of preventive measures at fish farms and the internal control of health status, especially at full-system fish farms, the presence of bacterial and parasitic pathogens is minimal.