31.—(1) Where the Department has confirmed that a listed disease or an emerging disease is present in aquatic animals in Northern Ireland, it shall designate such area as it considers appropriate to prevent or limit the spread of the disease.
(2) Where the Department has made a confirmed designation, it shall—
(a)carry out an epizootic investigation;
(b)place any farm or mollusc farming area in the confirmed designation area under the surveillance of the Department;
(c)take, or arrange to have taken, samples of or from any aquatic animal or water in the confirmed designation area as may be necessary to monitor the presence of the disease; and
(d)examine, or arrange to have examined, the samples in a laboratory designated by the Department in accordance with Article 57 of Directive 2006/88.
(3) It is an offence for a person, except under, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence granted by the Department, to—
(a)move any aquatic animal or aquaculture product into, out of or within a confirmed designation area; or
(b)dispose of any aquatic animal (whether alive or dead) which comes from a confirmed designation area.