The Victoria TimesColonist reports that salmon farmers and officials are countering
claims by a biologist by the name of Alexandra Morton who says a
newly identified virus is causing a debilitating disease in farmed
Canadian salmon.
He's accused of
sensationalizing unscientific findings and causing unfounded concerns
after declaring that tests on supermarket salmon, that found evidence
of piscine reovirus (PRV) were linked to heart and skeletal muscle
inflammation (HSMI).
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A newly identified
Norwegian virus that affects salmon has made its way into Canadian
markets, with test results confirming the presence of the virus in 44
out of 45 farmed salmon bought from Vancouver supermarkets.Photograph by: Ric Ernst, PNG Files. Read more ...
The Victoria Times
Colonist reports that salmon farmers and officials are countering
claims by a biologist by the name of Alexandra Morton who says a
newly identified virus is causing a debilitating disease in farmed
Canadian salmon.
He's accused of
sensationalizing unscientific findings and causing unfounded concerns
after declaring that tests on supermarket salmon, that found evidence
of piscine reovirus (PRV) were linked to heart and skeletal muscle
inflammation (HSMI).
Mary Ellen Walling
executive director of BC's Salmon Farmers Association says: "The
actions that returned these positive tests are highly unscientific
and the information released alongside them is considerably
speculative. It's really unorthodox. We don't know where these fish
came from or how they were treated. There's a huge opportunity for
cross-contamination."
Alexandra Morton is an
opponent of salmon farmed in open net pens. She was not given access
to farm fish for testing so sent BC fish-farmed salmon samples taken
from supermarkets to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward
Island and a Norway laboratory for testing. Both laboratories
reported piscine reovirus present in 44 out of 45 fish.
HSMI has never been found
in BC farmed salmon, says Mary Ellen Walling. Meanwhile, Department
of Fisheries and Oceans spokesman Frank Stanek said the link between
PRV and HSMI has not been verified.
"Government of
Canada scientists have not confirmed the presence of this virus in
Canadian fish, despite extensive monitoring and testing. Every
indication shows Canadian salmon are healthy and safe," he said.
Gary Marty, BC provincial
fish pathologist, says: "If the fish were infected with a deadly
virus, they would not have survived to be harvested or sold."
HSMI and PRV do not pose
any risk to human health. Read the full report from the VictoriaTimes Colonist …
This blog is written by staff at International Aquafeed Magazine which is published and supported by Perendale Publishers Limited. To get your copy of PPL's web application, 'PPLAPP' click here. |
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