About The PKDA

The Professional Koi Dealers Association held their inaugural meeting in 2000, however, much informal discussion had taken place in advance to ensure that the many concerns and problems as well as the goals and objectives of a broad based Koi Industry could be dealt with under the auspices of one Association. The first task was to unite Koi importers and dealers as well as those manufacturing or retailing the many products required for the support and well being of Koi. This ideal was a bold one but the benefits for both the Industry and ultimately for hobbyists was obvious.

The main goal was to raise standards in every possible respect. Koi health and welfare issues were paramount, as was the need for a standardised approach to quarantine. In addition a customers right to advice and for misunderstandings with a dealer to be resolved amicably was required in a written format and so the PKDA Code of Practice became a reality. All new members have to sign a form that acknowledges their agreement to abide by this Code on joining the Association and this Code is updated as the need arises.

The PKDA Complaints Procedure puts the public in control. Anything questionable about a member’s standards can be discussed with the PKDA General Secretary or put in writing to her. The issue is then dealt with by the PKDA Committee and members are asked to leave the Association if a complaint is justified and upheld. It can be a steep learning curve when a hobbyist becomes a Koi dealer and customers fail to appreciate the demands of large volumes of fish. Equally the novice Koi-keeper can inadvertently blame a dealer for a problem when the reality is often inexperience. The Association is aware of the level of complaints about aquatic outlets who are not PKDA members and hopes to be able to widen the scope of their Arbitration Service. The PKDA have an advisory team on many topics and this includes a lawyer Mr Ash Shadat and a Consultant in Fish Medicine Dr Paula Reynolds.

Government officers are often invited to PKDA meetings to keep members briefed on legislation. Being a member of the PKDA therefore gives an individual dealer a voice in DEFRA’s decision making process here in the U.K. as well as contact with the regulatory authorities in other countries. The PKDA is allied to the Shinkokai which is the Japanese trade association and there are regular exchanges between the two groups. The PKDA members believe it is vital that the closest links exist between Japan and this country. The bonds already formed both in business and friendship have proven a valuable asset to our members, and we are certain these will grow deeper and prove very advantageous for the future of the U.K Koi Industry.

A current prime objective is to certify our Koi dealer members as biosecure. Implementing the full PKDA Biosecurity Protocol can be costly and time consuming, requiring changes not just to the premises but to common practices and methods in handling fish.

One classic example is the necessity for a separate bowl and net in use in every quarantine and sales tank or pond. This is a very basic provision vital to good practise and it sounds simple enough to provide. However, it is not the fact the bowls and nets can be seen that matters it is the way in which they are used to prevent cross - infection that really counts. Bowls and nets must be colour coded or numbered as they are not just used to view Koi more closely at the time of purchase. A clean bowl must be available for moving sick fish or when transferring Koi from the quarantine into the sales tanks.

This is just one small aspect whereas the implications of being fully biosecure are many and various. Space is the main issue for most Koi dealers. In an ideal world the sales area will be separate to the quarantine or hospital facilities, and if this is not possible the dealer has to work much harder at preventing cross – infection and has to employ various barrier control methods to conform to the protocol.

Even back in 2000 biosecurity was an issue for the PKDA. Members were kept aware of the vital role it would play given the impact of Koi Herpesvirus and other serious disease. PKDA Biosecurity requires that every Koi is individually traceable and data such as the date of import, the size of the Koi and the original breeding farm are all supplied to and held independently by the Association for all their Koi dealer members. This can be accessed by DEFRA OR CEFAS and can be a very valuable tool when sourcing any Koi health problem. The biosecurity protocol that the PKDA follow is strict and requires site visits, so any dealer with a PKDA Biosecurity Certificate is one that Koi can be purchased from with confidence.

The PKDA has lost members since the large membership at its formation. This is seen as a natural process, as some members did not enjoy a team format and others found the Code of Practice restrictive. None the less the Association is currently growing. Any Koi farmer, importer, dealer or manufacturer in the Koi Industry can join the PKDA and we are pleased to have Japanese farmers amongst our members. Whilst those producing and selling Koi make obvious members, the association is privileged to have in its ranks those who sell pond liners, pumps, filters, Koi food, health products and other accessories that are all vital in support of Koi. The Association regards these members as highly significant as these companies and traders, whilst not producing or selling Koi, have had the foresight to support the Koi Industry and promote the hobby of Koi-keeping. The PKDA has a long way to go but a brighter future for the industry and healthier Koi for the hobby are well worth the challenge.