Monday, April 23, 2012

Claim of virus in salmon denied

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). 

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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