BC's Salmon Farmers Work Together on Virus Management

Representatives from all three Atlantic salmon farming companies have come together to co-ordinate approaches to mitigating risk factors in containing the virus, in adding testing on a wide range of farms and supporting the affected company.

These companies are paying close attention to the situation and moved immediately to check to assess their current situation and prepare for steps to come, said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association. The action by all members has been thorough, decisive and organized.

On 14 May, Mainstream Canada detected IHN virus as part of their routine fish health inspections at their Dixon Bay farm. The site has been officially quarantined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the company has begun to depopulate the site.

IHN virus is naturally carried by Pacific salmon, trout and herring, and studies show that they have a natural resistance to the virus and rarely develop illness or disease. Atlantic salmon however are highly susceptible to the virus, and when the virus is spread from wild sources to farm-raised Atlantic salmon, it can be lethal to the farmed fish.

BCSFAs members who farm Atlantic salmon have all signed a viral disease management plan, which has been implemented. This plan outlines communications, shared resources as well as plans for disposal and follow-up. All of these procedures are targeted at limiting any spread of the virus.

This is definitely concerning news for our members but they recognise that its critical to work with each other and with regulators to ensure that potential impacts are minimized, said Ms Walling.

The Dixon Bay finding is the first case of IHN in BCs salmon farms since 2003. IHN poses no human health risk.

The BC salmon farming industry employs 6,000 people directly and indirectly and contributes C$800-million to the provincial economy each year.