opened. The Weymouth Laboratory is the base for the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI). FHI's primary role is undertake statutory and inspection duties resulting from the EU Fish Health regime and other national legislation in the area of fish and shellfish health. The Inspectorate also licenses and monitors imports of fish and shellfish from other countries and runs an enforcement programme aimed at preventing the illegal importation of these animals. Weymouth Laboratory is also the European Union and UK national reference laboratory for monitoring bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve molluscs. Burnham-on-Crouch laboratory The Burnham laboratory was established in 1953 as the Ministry's first-ever purpose-built fisheries laboratory. The role of the laboratory was expanded in 1957 to cover work on pollution, and by the mid-60s began to take the lead in the investigation of environmental protection problems, with the exception of those arising from radioactive waste. Early studies concentrated on determining the toxic effects of various contaminants and surveying their levels in coastal waters and inshore fisheries. By 1970, the general aim of the work had become the establishing of the effects on commercial fish and shellfish resources of disposal of wastes, mineral and hydrocarbon extraction, and engineering and development work. This involved environmental impact assessments and a major monitoring programme. The Burnham Laboratory hosts the UK Offshore Chemical Notification Scheme which manages chemical use and discharge by the UK offshore petroleum industry. The scheme is regulated by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), using scientific and environmental advice from Cefas and the Fisheries Research Services (FRS). The laboratory was closed in December 2008 and the work moved to the Lowestoft Laboratory. Ships Ships that have been operated by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: RV Huxley (1902–1909) SY Hildegarde (1912–1914) SY Hiawatha (1914) SS Joseph & Sarah Miles (1920–1922) RV George Bligh (1921–1939) RV Onaway (1930–1960) RV Platessa (1946–1967) RV Ernest Holt (1946–1971) RV Sir Lancelot (1947–1960) RV Tellina (1960–1981) RV Clione (1961–1988) RV Corella (1967–1983) RV Cirolana (1970–2003) RV Corystes (1988–2003) RV Cefas Endeavour (2003–present) Notable alumni Ray Beverton FRS, co-author of the groundbreaking book On the Dynamics of Exploited Fish Populations in 1957 David Cushing FRS, credited with development of the match/mismatch hypothesis as an explanation for how poor stock recruitment can be associated with climatic variability and a lack of plankton resources for fish larvae. Walter Garstang, poet and naturalist, who established the