Aquatic Animals

The National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP) is a science-based regulatory program for aquatic animal diseases based on the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations. The program regulates aquatic animal health in a manner similar to that of the terrestrial animal health program.

The CFIA is working closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to deliver the NAAHP.

In order to receive updates on the proposed changes to the Health of Animals Regulations, please sign up to the Aquatic Animal Health E-mail Notification Services.

CFIA activities include:

• protecting the health of our aquatic animal resources;
• maintaining a list of aquatic animal diseases and databases;
• ensuring early detection of aquatic animal diseases through surveillance and monitoring programs;
• controlling and eradicating aquatic animal diseases;
• establishing import requirements and issuing import permits;
• providing export certification, sustaining existing export market access and developing new trade opportunities.
• providing risk assessments in support of policy decisions

The key acts and regulations we enforce are:

• Regulations Amending the Health of Animals Regulations
• Health of Animals Act
  • Health of Animals Regulations

Information we provide for the general public includes:

• Program Overview
• Proposed changes to the Health of Animals Regulations

Information we provide for the aquatic animal industry includes:

• Draft - Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens - comment period is now over
• Disease Control
  • Biosecurity
  • Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA)
  • Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS)
• Imports
• Exports
• Proposed changes to the Health of Animals Regulations

Additional government and industry information can be found at:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada