Mowi subsidiary confirms virus.
In a press release, Mowi subsidiary Northern Harvest Sea Farms (NHSF) writes that the suspect detection of Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv) at its Cinq Island Cove marine site located off the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada, has been confirmed.
The Quarantine Order that was issued by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture for Cinq Island Cove upon suspect detection remains in effect.
In response to this confirmation, NHSF said it is removing all Atlantic salmon raised in the same cage with the two fish identified as positive through the Provincial Government’s aquatic animal health surveillance program. Fish from all other cages at the site have tested negative, it wrote.
NHSF is removing approximately 200,000 salmon from the one cage. The marine site is comprised of three cages containing a total of approximately 600,000 fish.
“NHSF is carrying out the fish removal using approved biosecure Standard Operating Procedures,and all responsible actions in its response are under the oversight of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, and follows government-approved policies. Per provincial policy AP-17, the suspect positive discovery was disclosed within 24 hours of detection on August 15, and per provincial policy AP-17, NHSF announced the confirmation and our response within 24 hours of confirmation. We remind that ISAv is not a human health issue or a food safety issue,” wrote NHSF spokesperson Jason Card.
In April, NHSL has to cull all 450,000 juvenile salmon because of ISA at its hatchery located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
