Federal investigation into Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus in BC salmon
By Contributor
The recent reports stating that ISA has been found in B.C. salmon have not yet been verified by federal officials through established processes.
After initial investigations, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is concerned proper protocols may not have been followed in the testing and reporting of these findings.
CFIA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are working to assess the results through scientifically sound and internationally recognized procedures, which must include additional testing to verify the presence or absence of ISA virus in these samples.
“We want to assure Canadians and people around the world that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are working diligently to get the facts about the reports of the presence of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) in British Columbian salmon,” said Keith Ashfield, minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducts regular testing in British Columbia for a wide variety of pathogens, including ISA. Over the past two years, over 500 wild and farmed salmon in British Columbia have been tested by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
From 2003 to 2010, the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture operated a scientifically designed surveillance program that tested over 4,700 farmed salmon in BC. Again, all samples were negative for the virus.
“In short, there has never been a confirmed case of ISA in British Columbia salmon – farmed or wild,” said Ashfield.
The CFIA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been able to acquire additional tissue samples from the 48 sample fish. The national ISA reference laboratory in Moncton will analyze these samples. These tests could take up to five weeks to complete.
There are federal regulations in place to protect Canada’s aquatic species (farmed and wild) from disease.
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