Fisheries and Oceans Canada to review assess risks of pathogen transfer associated with the Piscine Reovirus, a common salmon virus.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the review in a press release yesterday. He said that the results of the assessment will support decision making on sustainable aquaculture and aquatic animal health in areas such as the Discovery Islands and Broughton Archipelago, Canada.
Domestic and international scientific experts including those from government, academia, Indigenous communities, ENGOs, and the industry will all contribute to the research according to the release. The review will be generated through DFO’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat and a final report will be publicly available in early 2019.
This is one of ten risk assessments that the Department is undertaking to understand the risk of pathogen transfer associated with aquaculture activities, including in the Discovery Islands area to pacific sockeye. The department wants to complete all ten risk assessments by 2020.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said: “Our government is committed to using best available science to protect wild Pacific salmon, including Fraser River sockeye… This scientific assessment will be undertaken by a diverse group of independent experts, and will inform thoughtful, science-based decisions on sustainable aquaculture.”
