Two mass mortality events reported at Cooke Aquaculture sites in Newfoundland.
Cooke Aquaculture has reported two salmon mortality events at its farming operations on the south coast of Newfoundland, CBC reports.
At the Olive Cove site in Hermitage Bay, approximately 47,000 fish died over several days beginning 19 July. Joel Richardson, Cooke’s vice president of public relations, cited high water temperatures and sea lice as contributing factors.
“A few key areas around Newfoundland […] can get warm,” Richardson told CBC Radio. “When you combine the high temperatures with localized sea lice […] it certainly can be problematic.”
Earlier, on 16 July, a separate incident during a smolt transfer at Cooke’s Grip Cove site resulted in the loss of 17,000 to 18,000 juvenile fish due to a mechanical issue. Richardson described the scale of loss as abnormal but added that some mortality during transfers is not uncommon.
Meanwhile, Mowi Canada East also confirmed a mortality event involving at least 17,600 fish, attributing the loss to elevated water temperatures. Managing director Gideon Pringle told CBC the issue was isolated to one farm and resolved quickly.
Cooke said temperature and fish health are monitored daily using underwater cameras and real-time sensors, and that sites are remediated following incidents.
