Application of risk management to the production chain of intensively reared fish

Principles of risk management, as a part of risk analysis, are described with respect to their application to the production chain of intensively reared fish. According to the outcomes of the FAO/WHO Expert consultation on the Application of Risk Management (Rome, 1997), there are four steps: risk evaluation, risk management option assessment, implementation of management decisions, and monitoring and review. There is a lack of information on risk assessment for farmed fish though, regarding bacteriological hazards, the data on farmed fish pathology and microbiology suggest a potential prevalence of Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. Other bacterial contaminants could be introduced on handling during selection and packaging of products. On the basis of the above qualitative risk evaluation, risk management options have been individuated. These concern the monitoring of the health status of fish during the fattening period, harvest parameters, hygiene of selection and packaging, and storage characteristics.