Tuesday 22nd April 2008.
Today I had my annual visit from the 'Fish Inspectorate' from CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science), this for me as a registered fish farm is my governing body. Each year I get a visit, although the last one was in October, due to planned changes of their whole classification within the 'fish industry' this one was earlier than normal. They are running around updating their info with a whole bundle of new lists!
Although part of the visit is to check the farms records, in the main it boils down to a visual inspection. As you all know, fish generally show their condition, sick or healthy it's not hard to spot. Bi-annually I have had to provide a dozen koi for them to screen for SVC ( Spring viremia of carp), this is a virus similar to KHV with is also deadly and is a reportable disease. This I am now told will not be carried out as a matter of course, but only if and when they may be a suspected problem at a carp farm.
My farm has always been a bit of a 'catch' for the 'fish inspectorate', as it is far more fun and interesting than most of the farms they visit. This was the second visit for Nick and he tends to stay just a little longer than he should, he's a bit of a koi fan and make rumbles of building a koi pond when his son is just a little older.
The sun shone from around 11am and inside the tunnel this afternoon it got very warm. Just what I want! The mud ponds are now up to 15c, I'm planning on bringing in the first sets of parents on Friday, although with another day like today, I could be ready for Thursday.