Sockeye salmon. (Photo: J. Armstrong/UW)
Fish farms suppose minimal risks to Fraser sockeye health
(CANADA, 12/22/2017)
There are minimal risks to the wild Fraser River sockeye salmon populations due to the transfer of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) from Atlantic salmon farms in the Discovery Islands, British Columbia.
This is the main conclusion of an assessment released by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), which also points out that the current fish health management practices such as vaccination and eradication of infected fish, help to minimize the risk.
This document is the first in a series that will assess the risk of pathogen transfer associated with aquaculture activities to wild fish and the environment in the Discovery Islands.
DFO carried out the analysis under the Aquaculture Science Environmental Risk Assessment Initiative.
The request for Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat advice supports DFO's role of managing aquaculture in BC and aligns with recommendations in the Cohen Commission Report on the risks to wild fish populations related to pathogen transfer from fish farms.
The peer review group was made up of 39 experts from various disciplines selected for their expertise and knowledge. The participants included scientific expertise from DFO, provinces, academia (Canada and International), Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders.
"Our government is committed to sound science. We use scientific advice when making decisions affecting fish stocks and ecosystem management, and this risk assessment provides clear, scientific information to help us do that," pointed out Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Dominic LeBlanc.
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